How to reset OneNote 2003 to the default state (827308)

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Use the methods in the order that they are presented to reset OneNote 2003.

Note Some of the methods are optional.

Method 1: Remove the OneNote 2003 Registry Key

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To remove the OneNote 2003 registry key, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\OneNote

4. Right-click the registry key, and then click Rename.
5. Type OneNoteBackup.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

Method 2: Rename the My Notebook Folder (Optional)

This method removes all your notes, and all the new sections that you have created. Skip this method if you want to retain your notes.

To reset the contents of the My Notebook folder back to the information that was available at installation, follow these steps:

1. Open My Documents.
2. Right-click My Notebook, and then click Rename.
3. Type My Old Notebook.

Method 3: Restore Missing Sections to the My Notebook Folder (Optional)

If you skipped Method 2, you can optionally remove the OneNote Table Of Contents.onetoc file. This file is the index of open sections in OneNote 2003. The next time that you start OneNote 2003, a new index is created that has all the sections in the My Notebook folder. If you do not want to rebuild this index, skip this method, but note that this will also open all the previously closed sections that were not deleted.

To create a new index, follow these steps:

1. Open the My Notebook folder in My Documents.
2. If you do not see the OneNote Table Of Contents.onetoc file, follow these steps:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
   2. On the View tab, click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.
   3. When you are prompted with the following message, click Yes:Are you sure you want to display these files?
   4. Click OK.
3. Right-click the OneNote Table Of Contents.onetoc file, and then click Rename.
4. Type OneNote Old TOC.oldonetcold.

Method 4: Remove Preference and Toolbars Files

To reset the Preferences file and the custom toolbar file, follow these steps:

1. Locate the following folder where user is the current user who is logged in:

   C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Microsoft\OneNote

2. Backup the following files to another folder:
   • Preferences.dat
   • Toolbars.dat
   Note If you have not customized your toolbars or your menus, you will not have the Toolbars.dat file.
3. Delete the original files in the OneNote folder.
4. OneNote 2003 is reset to the way that it was when it was installed.