Getting Started with Word 2002

In Windows, there are several ways you can start Word and get it running within seconds. Although it is common knowledge to start programs in Windows via the conventional Start button, I think it really wouldn't be bad at all to know other nerdy methods of starting programs (like Word) in Windows.

You can start Word 2002 via any of the following methods:

• Start button and the Start menu
• Using the Run command
• Shortcut icon on the desktop
• Automatically after starting Windows
• Together with a Word document

Starting Word Using the Start Button and the Start Menu

Use the following procedures to start Word using the Windows Start button and the Start menu:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.
2. Move the mouse pointer over the (All) Programs item in the menu. The programs menu will appear.
3. Move the pointer over the Microsoft Word item and click.  

Word will start in a new blank document window as follows:

For a detailed explanation/description of the Word XP 2002 window and its elements, click here. In the meantime, let's quickly walk through the other methods of starting Word in Windows.

Starting Word Using  Run Command
To do this,

1. Click the Start button, to display the Start menu.
2. On the Start menu, click Run.
3. Type 'winword.exe' in the text box within the Run dialog box that appears (ignore quotations marks).

Word will start immediately in a new blank document.

Starting Word Using Word Shortcut Icon on the Desktop

You can also start Word straight and more quickly via a Word shortcut icon on the desktop.
If you do not already have the Word shortcut icon on the desktop of your PC, and you'd like to speed up starting Word by using this method, follow the procedures below to add the shortcut icon to the desktop of your PC, and with it start Word more quickly any time you want.

To add the Word shortcut icon to the desktop

1. Click the Start button.
2. Point to (All) Programs.
3. On the programs menu, right-click the Microsoft Word item.
4. On the shortcut/context menu that appears, select 'Send To', and then choose 'Desktop (create shortcut)'.

The Microsoft Word shortcut icon will be added to the desktop.

• To start Word at any time, simply double-click the Word shortcut icon on the desktop and Word will start in all its glory!

Starting Word Automatically after Starting Windows

Customarily, you no doubt must have been starting Word by simply clicking the Start button on the Windows Task bar and choosing Programs and then Microsoft Word.

If you cannot but use Word every time you boot your PC, it means that you invariably go over the same task of manually starting Word after every reboot of your PC. This can sometimes be time-consuming, boring and frustrating, you know.


Well, in this section, I will teach you how to make Word start automatically after loading Windows.


You should/must have known that Windows is an operating system, and so, controls the automatic starting of programs, not the programs themselves starting automatically. This means that every program that starts automatically every time you boot/reboot your PC does not do so on its own, but is being started automatically by your PC's operating system (Windows, for example).


Windows places all programs and documents to be loaded, automatically, in a special folder called StartUp. 

So, if you want to speed up your work by making Word (or any other program) start automatically after  starting Windows, you need to move the Word program file or shortcut into the StartUp folder.

Steps:

1. Click the Start button and select (All) Programs.
2. On the Programs menu, move the mouse pointer over the Microsoft Word item, right-click and then choose Copy.
3. To reach the StartUp folder, enter this path on the address bar of the Windows Explorer 'C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'. 
   Please ignore the quotation marks and, if necessary, replace the drive letter, 'C' with the appropriate drive letter of the hard drive or partition where you installed Word. If necessary also, replace 'Administrator' with the appropriate UserName you have on your PC.
4. On getting to the StartUp folder, paste the Word program icon you copied in step 2 above.

That's all you need to do to make Word, or any program, start automatically after starting Windows.
In future, Word will start automatically and immediately Windows is loaded.

TIP:

1. Any time you no longer want Word to start automatically this way, simply do one of the following:

•   Go back to the Startup folder and delete the Word shortcut icon from it.
•   Click the Start button, point to Programs, select the Startup item, and in the Startup sub-menu, click and drag the Word program icon out of it.

   2.  If you find step 3 above difficult to apply, you may consider the following alternative steps: 

To start a program each time you start Windows

1. Right-click the Start button, and then click Properties.
2. On the Start Menu tab, click Classic Start menu, and then click Customize. This changes the style of the Start menu.
3. Click Advanced.
4. In the Start Menu folder, find the shortcut to Word ( or the program you want to start each time you start Windows), and paste or hold down the Ctrl key and drag it to the Startup folder located in the Programs folder.
5. You can get to the StartUp folder by following the hierarchy below on the left hand side of the Windows Explorer.

• Documents and Settings
• User name
• Start Menu
• Programs
• Startup

Start Word together with a Word Document

Another way you can load Word is by starting it and opening a document simultaneously.
Steps:

1. Locate the folder where the Word document you want to open is saved.
2. Double-click the Word file or right-click it and choose Open from the shortcut menu that appears.

Word will now start and open the document together with it.