"This is not a valid file name." error message

Question

When I am in a Word Document (which I use in my laptop's OneDrive folder system), and try to "Save As", I frequently get the following error message:

This is not a valid file name.

Try one or more of the following:

* Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly.

* Select a file from the list of files and folders.

(See screenshot below.)

I know that it is not an issue with the path because I haven't changed the path. I'm just clicking Save As and saving a new version in the same folder. I'm not adding any unusual characters that aren't allowed. I'm not making the file name any longer (usually just changing a rev number, from 3 to 4, for example). If I exit Word, go to the folder, copy and paste the document, and change the name of the pasted document to whatever my desired file name was, I receive no error message. This is an extremely unwieldy work-around, however. What is happening wit this error message?

Answer 1

I have same problem it is driving me nuts. My current workaround is to save the file to my desktop so I don't lose work. Then I manually copy the file to the relevant One Drive folder using Windows Explorer. Then I open the file by double-clicking open it. Sometimes it's fine, other times it tells me there are problems saving. In which case I close the Microsoft Office application and then reopen it. Occasionally I need to reboot the PC and resync one Drive.

Sometimes when I get the error and I hit enter a few times and it saves ok. From my guesstimate it's a bug with the syncing of One Drive. So much for the cloud revolution...

Answer 2

I have the same problem (office 365), driving me nuts, and I think MS is ignoring us and the work around is very inconvenient.  I just downloaded the trial version of Corel's office equivalent (Word Perfect Office I think).  Yes, a learning curve, but I cannot live like this.

Answer 3

I also am having this problem, that just started yesterday.  I use OneDrive from my university and have done for over 4 years, and now all of a sudden I can't save files.  I have a document on autosave, and it will work fine, but if I try to actively save it, I get this error, and after that, the autosave stops working.  I have to save to my local computer and move it.  It is super annoying

Answer 4

still cant find my F drive. I want to back up QuickBooks.

Answer 5

Having the exact same issue, any fix yet?