Context menu - New - Microsoft Word Document

I'm using Office 2007 with Windows 7 Ultimate in this case.

I have changed the default settings for Word (font, line spacing, etc.) and new Documents to open with my settings when I open them from the Word shortcut (to the .exe file in Program Files). I followed this guide: How do I... Change the normal template in Word 2007 to my preferences? This works fine.

But when I open a new document from the right-click context menu, it always goes back to the old default settings (with Calibri font, etc.), even if I redo the settings again.

The "Normal.dotm" file in C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates folder has my changed settings. Where does the context-new word document get the old settings? I've looked at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx but would not like to alter the ShellNew key without guidance.

Any suggestions for untangling this would be most welcome.

Try restarting your computer after changing the template, Word might still be using the old Normal.dotm.

Wouldn't it be nice if it were that simple, but no, rebooted as a matter of course.

It's the "NullFile" string, value blank, in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\Word.Document.12\ShellNew that gets the shortcut into context menu > new. Where is it getting the "wrong" template from?

It appears Word doesnt use Normal.dotm when you switch to the context menu. See this page for some info and a workaround.

Creating New Word 12 Files from Windows Explorer « Herb Tyson Word Bible Blog

Also, scroll down that page, one of the posters has mentioned a hotfix.

Thanks, Bill2 - so an update needed, or just use the shortcut instead of the right-click new, for now.