MS Word document won't save properly - a file error has occurred

Question

The problem is shown in the above picture.

1. Save: When I click save, it comes up with the dialog box saying a file error has occurred and it doesn't save the document. Then, the entire UI is broken, except for the texts which I covered them in Paint on purpose.
2. Save as: If I try save as, it simply creates a new Word file with the name I specify and saves nothing in there.

The problem seems to occur when I try to save a fairly large document. I'm currently writing my PhD thesis which is more than 300 pages including a lot of pictures and tables. This problem has occurred many times during writing, but I was just able to live with it by force shutting down the MS Word process and continuing to work with the auto-saved file. I am able to save the auto-saved file. It also works if I wait for the next auto saving to happen. After the auto saving, the UI will recover and I will be able to save the file again.

I have tried to copy and paste the content into a new word document, but the same problem repeated when I tried to save it. Probably somewhere in the contents causes the corruption.

I have had this problem with MS Word 2010 and now it is still here with MS Word 2016 and I have seen many others are having the same problem with no good solution. I wonder if MS have known this issue and is looking into it actively.

TL;DR

The problem usually occurs when I try to save a large file with a lot of pictures and tables.

Neither "Save" nor "Save as" saves the document.

This problem can't be solved by copying and pasting the content into a new word document.

My current solutions:

1. Force shut down MS Word and work with the auto-saved file.
2. Wait for the next auto saving to happen and then save the document using "Save" or "Save as".

My questions:

1. Is MS aware of this problem and is working on it?
2. Any other better solutions?

Answer 1

If this happens with a particular document, try treating it as corrupt. At the very end of the document, press Enter once to add a paragraph mark. Copy the content, minus the paragraph mark you just added, into a new blank document.

Answer 2

Hi,

I realize the inconvenience you are experiencing with Word 2016. I will certainly help you.

You may refer to the suggestions from the thread below answered by Doug Robbins - Word MVP and see if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_365hp-word/unable-to-save-documents-in-word-2016-on-windows/1957571e-ac54-496d-9d13-27e947b561d0

Hope it helps. Try the suggestion and let us know the result at your earliest convenience.

Thank you.

Answer 3

Hi Prabhavathi,

Thanks for your prompt reply to my thread. I don't have that IBM software on my PC or laptop. I forgot to mention that I have a desktop PC and a laptop both running the latest Win10 and having MS Office University installed. The document won't save on both machines, and neither have that mentioned software.

Thank you.