I have a problem in Word 2000. Whenever I open an existing document to amend it I get strange gobbledy **** before the "Dear" part and after the "from" part. I can delete it and save the document but when I come to open it again the damn stuff is back. Help please good people.

You could try this:

Open Windows Search
Make sure that you are searching all files - i.e. Show hidden files and folders
Search all drives for Normal*
DELETE the file named Normal.dot (don't worry, MS Word will re-create it when you next use it)
Open MS Word and then open the documents you have had troubles with

Let us know how you get on.

That's it, thanks Hengis.