"Disk is full" save error in Word 2004

[jbp]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hey,

I'm working on what will be a largish (100-200 page) technical document in Word 2004. I get regular (every 2-3 days?) save errors like this:

The disk is full trying to write to "MacHD". Free som space on this drive, or save the document on another disk.
Try one or more of the following:
* Close any unneeded documents, programs, and windows.
* Save the document on another disk.

I've cruised the net for solutions, but haven't eliminated the problem yet. I've 'maggied' the file a few times but the problem returns. I've also tried the <http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DiskFullError.html> solution (though it isn't supposed to be needed for 2004).

I'm using EndNote X.0.2, and MathType 5.1.

I use 'Normal' view almost exclusively, and have gotten in the habit of saving often.

Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks!

Boise

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Boise:

The "Disk full" error simply means "Write failed to complete".

It's a prehistoric error message left over from the days when a full disk
was the most likely cause.

In your case, I suspect that it's document corruption, caused by EndNote and
cleared by the Maggie.

I suggest that each time you finalise an equation, you convert it to a
picture. That reduces the "attack surface" slightly. Copy the equation out
to a spare document, in case you ever need to change it, then Copy it and
paste it back in as a Picture.

With the EndNotes, there is always going to be an issue. EndNote jams
several thousand bytes of information into a storage unit that was never
designed to hold more than 256. It does tend to break documents.

It can help to fully complete your text before you add ANY EndNotes to the
document. It's a pain, but if you simply add a "placeholder" you can search
for later, then add all your end notes at the finish, you won't keep
breaking the document while you are working on it.

The other thing you could do is divide your document into sections or
chapters, so that the document you are "working" on is much smaller and you
have less to lose. And, of course, turn on "Always make backup" so that if
you lose it, you can instantly get back to the previous (manual) save. That
way, you should never lose more than a few minutes work.

Hope this helps

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hey,

I'm working on what will be a largish (100-200 page) technical document in
Word 2004. I get regular (every 2-3 days?) save errors like this:

The disk is full trying to write to "MacHD". Free som space on this drive, or
save the document on another disk.
Try one or more of the following:
* Close any unneeded documents, programs, and windows.
* Save the document on another disk.

I've cruised the net for solutions, but haven't eliminated the problem yet.
I've 'maggied' the file a few times but the problem returns. I've also tried
the <http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DiskFullError.html> solution (though it isn't
supposed to be needed for 2004).

I'm using EndNote X.0.2, and MathType 5.1.

I use 'Normal' view almost exclusively, and have gotten in the habit of saving
often.

Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks!

Boise

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John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]