Normal.dotm errors - save, can't save, another user (bogus), tech support hasn't been able to solve the problem, any ideas?

Question

All I did was print a Word document. The document is on a remote server I access through a VPN.

Error message: 

This file is in use by another application or user.

(C:\Users\Fred\AppData...\Normal.dotm)

This error is bogus. I'm the only user with access to that file. Why is Word trying to update that file when all I did was print the document?

Then when I try to save the file I get a different error message:

We can't save this file because it's read-only.

To keep your changes, you'll need to save the document with a new name or in a different location.

(C:\Users\Fred\AppData...\Normal.dotm)

I searched AppData and think this is the file location:

C:\Users\Fred\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

I checked file properties and it's not read-only.

This problem has been going on for years. I tried saving Normal.dotm to a different location, but the problem continues. I haven't found anything in Options.

Also, sometimes Word starts when I login, even though it was closed when I shut down.

Has anyone else experienced this error?

Answer 1

The problem is intermittent. I was getting the error messages frequently. Recently the problem has not been happening.

For a few days I was checking Tack Manager frequently for Background Processes and if Microsoft Word was active I would kill the task.

I do not know if that is what caused Microsoft Word to stop being activated as a Background Process.

I recently stopped using Microsoft Edge. I saw it active as a Background Process and performed a Kill Task. Now I do not see Microsoft Edge in the list of Background Processes.

Recently Word gave me a message saying that Normal.dotm had changed and did I want to use the new version. I responded yes. Maybe that had something to do with not getting error messages recently.

I am going to call this resolved. I became aware of Background Processes and that has helped. I have no idea if the problem is really resolved because it has been intermittent and I have not been able to determine what caused it to happen.

Thank you for your help.

Answer 2

It sounds like there may be an instance of Word running in the background.  Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and look through all of the items under the Processes tab>Background Processes for an instance of instances of Microsoft Word and use the End Task button to close those instances if there are any.

Answer 3

Is it there if you restart your computer?

Answer 4

Very good! There was an instance of Word running in the background. Any ideas on how to stop this from happening?

Answer 5

Hi FredTurnerTBS,

Thank you for querying in this forum.

According to your description, it seems that you used remote server to print a Word document, however, you encountered an error message. Then you also tried to save the file and you encountered an error message. You have checked the file properties and it is not read-only.

We also noticed that you mentioned that this issue has been going on for years, even if you have tried to save template to a different location.

If my understanding is right, it seems that you have referred to the suggestion Doug provided to go to Task Manager and found an instance of Word under background, you can refer to the suggestion Doug provided to select this instance and click End task, then you can print or save files to check if the same problem will occur. If so, you can restart your computer to check if the same problem will occur.

If the suggestion above doesn’t work, you can refer to the steps below:  Exit all office applications > Click on start->run > Type %appdata% and click ok > Go to Microsoft > templates folder and delete Normal.dotm without moving this template > Restart word to check if the same problem will occur.

If the same problem still persists after trying all suggestions above, could you provide the information below?

1. Could you provide the product information and version of your Word? You can go to Word > File > Account and provide the full screenshot of it.
2. Could you provide the screenshot of error message?
3. Do all files have the same problem? You can create a new document to check if the same problem.

Best Regards,

Sukie