WebDAV connection error

Question

Hello,

I've been having trouble accessing it via WebDav for a few days, where I don't know where it's coming from. It affects several computers with different Office versions. It's about storing the documents that cause an error, but that hasn't caused any problems for years before and with other computers (same configuration) still doesn't cause any problems.

Here is the overview:

 WebDAV integrated via SynologyNAS and network drive

 Inserted certificate via Credential Manager

 external security (Kaspersky IS) was removed as a potential culprit -> without success

 View and open the documents without any problems.

 When saving in Excel, the error message "The document was not saved" appears

 When saving in Word, the error message "Network or file permission error. The network connection may no longer exist..." -> which is nonsense, of course

 Curiously, it creates a 0-byte Excel/Word file and several ....tmp & ~$... files with the same storage time and in the WebDAV storage location, so storage is somehow possible, but distorted.

 The WebDAV network drive was set as a trusted storage location in the TrustCenter.

 Also all network things allowed.

 If you store the Word/Excel file on the desktop, you can edit and save it without any problems and then save it again via drag & drop to the WebDAV storage location.

 Everything that was unsuccessful has already been tested under Internet Properties / Security etc

 Cross tests with Adobe/text editor can be opened and saved without any problems -> so it only affects Office files from/in the WebDAV drive

As written, this has only been appearing on a few machines for a few days so far, but I haven't found a solution so far. Therefore I ask for possible solutions and hope for it.

thanks

Tilo

Original from here

Answer 1

Hello,

Based on the information provided, it seems like there might be an issue with Office applications interacting with the WebDAV network drive. The fact that other non-Office files (like Adobe or text files) can be opened and saved without issues suggests that the problem is specific to Microsoft Office.

Here are some potential solutions to try:

Check WebDAV Server and NAS Configuration: Ensure that your Synology NAS and WebDAV server are correctly configured and up to date. Check for any firmware or software updates for your NAS that might address compatibility issues with Office applications.

Update Office: Verify that all affected machines have the latest updates and patches for Microsoft Office. Outdated Office versions might have compatibility problems with certain network storage solutions.

Check File Locking Mechanisms: Office applications often use file locking mechanisms to prevent conflicts when multiple users try to edit the same document simultaneously. Ensure that your WebDAV server and NAS support file locking correctly. Some WebDAV implementations might have limitations in handling file locking, causing issues with Office applications.

Antivirus/Firewall: Although you mentioned removing Kaspersky Internet Security as a potential culprit, it's worth checking if there are any other antivirus or firewall programs on the affected machines that might be interfering with Office's ability to save files to the WebDAV drive. Temporarily disabling any security software for testing purposes can help isolate the issue.

Clear Office Cache: Sometimes, Office applications cache data, which can lead to unexpected issues. Try clearing the Office cache on the affected machines by following these steps:

Close all Office applications.

Press Win + R, type "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0" (replace "16.0" with the Office version you have), and press Enter.

Delete all the contents of the "Office" folder.

Restart your Office applications and try saving to the WebDAV drive again.

Check Office Trust Center: Double-check the Trust Center settings in Office applications. In some cases, certain settings related to macros, security, or trusted locations can affect the ability to save to network drives.

Try Office in Safe Mode: Run Office applications in Safe Mode to rule out any potential add-in or extension conflicts. To do this, press Win + R, type "winword /safe" (for Word) or "excel /safe" (for Excel), and press Enter. Test saving to the WebDAV drive in Safe Mode.

Test on Different Computers: If possible, test saving Office files to the WebDAV drive on different computers with different Office versions. This can help identify if the issue is specific to certain machines or Office installations.

If none of the above solutions work, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support or your WebDAV server/NAS provider for further assistance. They may have specific insights or updates related to your configuration that could help resolve the issue.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

Hope this resolves your Query !!

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer–

Answer 2

I guess, you issue is that Microsoft blocks Basic Auth which Webdav is using, see here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/security/basic-authentication-prompts-blocked

I've the same issue. I use Office 365 and deployed the "Allow specified hosts to show Basic Authentication prompts to Office apps" GPO on my clients but it's still not working. (I don't use MS Cloud Policy Server for O365). Can anybody help me with that?