You are experiencing repeated crashes when starting Microsoft Word 2010 and the program never fully loads. A colleague suggests starting Word in a special diagnostic state that disables add ins and customizations. Which startup mode should you use?

Introduction / Context:
When Microsoft Word 2010 crashes during startup, the problem is often caused by damaged add ins, corrupted templates, or problematic settings. Microsoft Office applications provide a diagnostic startup option that loads the program with minimal configuration so that you can troubleshoot and fix the underlying issue. Certification exams frequently ask which mode to use for this type of scenario, because it shows that you understand basic support techniques for Office applications.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Word 2010 crashes during startup and never fully loads the user interface.
The problem likely involves add ins or customizations, not the underlying Windows installation.
Your colleague recommends a special startup mode rather than reinstalling immediately.
The mode should start Word with default settings and with most add ins disabled.
You want to be able to open the application and then remove or adjust problematic components.

Concept / Approach:
Microsoft Office applications, including Word 2010, support Safe Mode. When you start Word in Safe Mode (for example by running winword.exe /safe), the application loads without most add ins, without the global template, and with many custom settings bypassed. This allows you to determine whether the crashes are caused by user customizations or third party components. Other labels such as Private Mode, Easy Mode, or Invulnerable Mode are not official Office features and do not describe real startup options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recognize that the problem occurs during Word startup and is likely related to something that loads at that time, such as templates or add ins. 2. Recall that Microsoft documents Safe Mode as the recommended method to troubleshoot crashing Office programs. 3. Safe Mode is started either by holding the Ctrl key while starting Word and confirming the prompt, or by using the command line switch winword.exe /safe. 4. In Safe Mode, Word bypasses the Normal.dotm template, disables most third party add ins, and ignores some registry settings, which often prevents the crash. 5. Once Word opens successfully in Safe Mode, you can remove or reconfigure the problem add in or template so that normal startup works again.

Verification / Alternative check:
Microsoft support articles and troubleshooting guides consistently recommend using Safe Mode when Word or other Office programs fail to start correctly. You can test Safe Mode by launching Word with the safe switch and observing that the title bar indicates Safe Mode. If the application runs without crashing, the issue is almost certainly related to add ins or customizations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Private Mode is a term more commonly associated with browser privacy features and is not a Word startup mode.
Easy Mode is a generic phrase and not an actual Office startup feature, so it does not address the technical issue.
Invulnerable Mode is not a documented feature and does not exist in Microsoft Word, so it cannot be used for troubleshooting crashes.

Common Pitfalls:
Some users reinstall Office immediately instead of first trying Safe Mode, which can be more disruptive and unnecessary. Another pitfall is assuming that Safe Mode is only for security issues, when it is actually very useful for debugging unstable add ins and templates. Knowing how to start Word in Safe Mode is an important skill for support professionals and power users.

Final Answer:
You should start Word 2010 in Safe Mode to troubleshoot startup crashes.