Hi,

I'm experiencing a strange Word integration issue with Zotero on Windows 11.

The key finding is that whether Zotero can connect to Word depends on both the document location and whether Zotero is run as administrator:

- When Zotero is started normally:
- Documents on the Windows Desktop: Zotero Word integration works normally.
- Documents on D: (and ordinary non-Desktop locations): Add/Edit Citation fails with "Could not find a running Word instance."

- When Zotero is run as administrator:
- Documents on D: work normally.
- Documents on the Desktop fail with "Could not find a running Word instance."

For example, a newly created blank document at D:\test.docx fails when Zotero is running normally, but works when Zotero is run as administrator.

This is not limited to one particular document. I have tested newly created blank Word documents as well.

The debug output for the failed integration shows that Zotero receives the correct document path:

Integration: WinWord-addEditCitation:'D:\the begin\Doc2.docx' invoked

Integration: Instantiating WinWord plugin handler for command addEditCitation with doc D:\the begin\Doc2.docx

Then it fails with:

Could not find a running Word instance.
[getDocument\:Y:\zotero\word-for-windows-integration\build\zoteroWinWordIntegration\document.cpp:144]

Debug ID: D463680835

System information:
- Windows 11
- Zotero 9.0.6 (x64)
- Microsoft Word 2021 MSO, 64-bit
- Word Version 2609, Build 16.0.20430.20032

Zotero.dotm is loaded as an active Word global template from:
C:\Users\zhaoz\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP\Zotero.dotm

Things I have already tested:
- Reinstalled the Zotero Microsoft Word add-in
- Confirmed Zotero.dotm is loaded in Word
- Disabled "Run as administrator" for both Zotero and Word
- Confirmed UAC is enabled at the normal/default notification level
- Tested Windows 8 compatibility mode for Zotero (no change)
- Updated Microsoft Office/Word to Version 2609, Build 16.0.20430.20032 (no change)
- Tested newly created blank Word documents
- Tested ordinary locations on both C: and D:
- Tested a simple path (D:\test.docx)
- Temporarily disabled EndNote Cite While You Write (no change)
- Temporarily disabled Microsoft OfficePLUS (no change)

Additional history:
Several months ago, Zotero Word integration worked normally with documents on D:. Later, running Zotero as administrator became a workaround for D: documents. Now the behavior has become location-dependent as described above: normal Zotero works with Desktop documents but not D: documents, while elevated Zotero works with D: documents but not Desktop documents.

I understand that running Zotero as administrator is not recommended, and I am only using it here as a diagnostic test/workaround.

Could you please help determine why Zotero can find the running Word document in one privilege/location combination but not the other?

Thank you!