Word error message "Word cannot save or create this file. The disk may be full or write protected, etc. Word Work File D...."

Question

Word has started crashing on me (especially when I go to print, but at other times too). When I cut or copy, the cut or copy works, but I get a message, "Word cannot save or create this file. The disk may be full or write protected, etc. … Word Work File D...." 

It seems to be a permissions problem as I have lots of free disk space. I've repaired permissions, that didn't help. I  deleted all office files that I could find and reinstalled Word (twice), and it still happens. It seems like Word is trying to write to a folder whose permissions are messed up. Does anyone know the location of the folder where it writes it's temporary (Word Work D…) files?

It is only happening on my main user account. On my other account on the same computer, Word works fine.

I have the latest version of Word (14.2.2) and am running the latest version of Lion (10.7.4). Any ideas?

Answer 1

this happened to me too!! I went to microsoft chat support and they solved it. this is what he said to me it "

This is a typical issue for Mac hard drives

12:53 pm

Neo P.

Sometimes if there are some Mac system integrity issue the folders are affected

12:53 pm

Neo P.

I will run the disc repair to fix the folder issue

12:53 pm

he said you can run disk repair up to two times a month and then showed me how to do it myself. you go to finder >> go >> utilities >> disk utility >> repair disk permissions

worked for me! hopefully it works for you too!

Answer 2

I found the problem. I was using the program MenuEverywhere because I have multiple monitors. I disabled MenuEverywhere, deleted it from my computer, restarted my Mac and the problem was gone. Word works again.

I had forgotten that I had installed this new program. It should have been the first thing I checked. Sorry.

I think Sandboxing for Mac apps might be a good idea.

Daniel, thank you for your suggestions. Much appreciated. You're the best.

Thank you for all your help.

Answer 3

Your Word seems unable to write to the TemporaryItems folder. To determine exactly where this is for the current user, open AppleScript Editor and paste this line of code:

---

tell application "Finder"to open the (path to temporary items)

and Run it. The Finder will open the "TemporaryItems" folder.

• Without selecting any of the files, do *File > Get Info (*or press Command i). You'll then get the information for TemporaryItems.
• Click on the lock at the bottom
• Enter your admin password
• Click on the + sign at the bottom
• Add your user name [see note below*] to the list, specifying "Read & write" privileges

Now test Word. If the fix doesn't work, you can repeat Get Info and click on the – sign to delete your name from the access list.

(After you do this, whenever you repair permissions, Disk Utility might diagnose "ACL found but not expected on '/private/var/ ... /TemporaryItems'." No problem.)

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* Note added as per poster's experience: If your name is already on the list, delete it, then add it again.

Answer 4

This will help you find those files.

Check all those folders that are giving you problems with the Finder's Get Info (Command i). Make sure they are not locked, as a locked folder will produce that error (though it may not be the only cause).

Answer 5

And check your Time Machine preferences.  Lion has the ability to automatically lock files after a selected period: that will also produce this error.

And avoid re-installing software on the Mac.  It rarely helps (the software that gets damaged is not on the disk to be re-installed) and sometimes makes things worse (by mixing updated software with un-updated software).

Hoe this helps