If it is just a user setting then it will not be necessary to re-install. There
is a hidden folder in your home folder with your settings and if you delete it
then you can reset it. You need to have Nautilus set to show hidden folders. It
is in the menu under View or you can use a hotkey, Ctrl+H. It is a toggle. Once
done, your hidden files and folders all begin with a dot. The one that you want
to delete is .openoffice. Delete it and then open Openoffice and see if this has
helped resolve the problem. A similar appraoch can be used for most settings.
Just delete them and start over.