Help with a Computer Glitch (MS of course)

2-10-04 | lafroste

[lafroste]

I have a computer glitch that is driving me nuts. When trying to save a large, complex document (that I have invested some serious time into perfecting) I am writing, I get an error message claiming Word cannot save it because the "disk is full". My hard drive has 4 gigs left; a blank floppy is also reported as full, as is my backup drive (free space = 30 gigs), and the network drive (free space = ~60 gigs). Word will also say that it is "suspending" auto backup. If I cut and paste the entire document into another document, it still can't save it.

Bizzarly, if I open an earlier version, I CAN save it provided I have not modified it - a truely useless feature for a work in progress.

I have re-installed MS Office 2000 - didn't work. I hav defraged the drives - didn't work, I have cleaned out several gigs of junk - didn't work. Other MS Office components, namely Excel, Access, and Powerpoint do not seem to have this problem.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[lafroste]

Did I mention that I really hate computers?

[goldstategop]

Save it to a floppy or a CD.

[KalDot]

Will it save to a PDF file?

[AppyPappy]

Did I mention that I really hate computers?

Then don't use one. Do a File/Save As and tell us where the save is going.

[goldstategop]

If you have converter software that works within Microsoft Word, the answer is definitely yes, you can save a Word document as a PDF file and vice versa.

[Ragirl]

Try saving as a text (.txt) document. Open notepad and cut and paste.

[ken in texas]

What Operating System is this?
How large is the document?
Do you have the option set in Word to enable fast saves? (if so, turn it off)
Can you save it as an RTF file?

[GaltMeister]

Here is a URL from Microsoft - More than likely you have an errant temp or spool file, I would try that first.

Click For MS Link

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;224059&Product=wrd20

[philetus]

Whens the last time you defragged your hard drive?

[lafroste]

Save it to a floppy or a CD.

You seem to be missing the salient point. I cannot save it anywhere, all drives are reported as full. As for other comments: save as RTF - can't without destroying the document. It has many embedded graphics, charts and files. Save as a PDF - can't. first, I don't have the requisite software, second, it is a work in progerss and is not finished.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm off to the MS link kindly provided....

[Quilla]

You may want to try running Word exclusively. Often times, I get similar messages when too many applications are running simultaneously.

[lafroste]

What Operating System is this?
How large is the document?
Do you have the option set in Word to enable fast saves? (if so, turn it off)
Can you save it as an RTF file?

OS is Windows 2000 Pro
Document size is about 800 KB
Fast save has been disabled
RTF will destroy the document (see earlier comment)

[lafroste]

You may want to try running Word exclusively. Often times, I get similar messages when too many applications are running simultaneously.

I tried that. I shut down everything except Word, it still won't save it. Are there any switches I could have inadvertantly triggered that cause this type of error?

[mikesmad]

It sounds like you have tried just about everything I would recommend. The only other thing I can think of is can you email the document from within word to yourself or someone else. If you can do this, then reboot before opening the attachment and try again.

I hate to say it, but you are probably screwed. For future reference it is my experience that you always turn off the auto save feature in MS Office. Just get in the habit of manually saving it every few minutes if you are making massive changes. Auto save seems to always cause problems.

Good luck.

[Quilla]

I'm not aware of any such switches. One alternative, until this problem is resolved, would be to divide the document into smaller segments and saving them individually.

[Quilla]

Darn, I replied to myself. (Talk to myself sometimes, too.) You might want to check out this Microsoft support link on auto save problems:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;176284

[js1138]

I am curious about the time line here. You say you have reinstalled Office. How do you do this with the document open? I suspect there is some obscure error in the document. Have you tried breaking the document into pieces or chapters and saving them as separate files?

[rocksblues]

Check this web site out. I bet the answer is there without you even having to ask them a question. If you do have to post the question it will be free.

http://www.experts-exchange.com

[tdadams]

It's nice to see Experts Exchange finally put a hyphen in their website address. They probably got tired of all the inquiries from people with gender identity disorders.

[lafroste]

How do you do this with the document open?

I have an earlier version on disk because I have been working on the document in different locations as I get the chance. For all my complaining, I am only at risk of losing about an hour's work. My concern is that I am stopped here until this problem is resolved.