Error: Too many files are open - have tried everything

[Jonathan Abrams]

I have a client running a MacOSX 10.3.4 machine in an office that is
working off of of a Samba 3.0.4 file server.

The problem seems to affect certain files at random, but when it appears,
no one can save that file. The error "Too many files are open" appears.

There are windows machines in the office that have no problems.

Users are able to create files just fine, then another user can open it,
but can't make changes and save it (even though the file has full r/w
permissions and isn't being used by other users at the time).
I have also tried to delete temporary files created by word, but the
problem still occurs.

This error occurs in both Word X and Word 2004.

Any help would be great.

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Check this page--is that your problem?

http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/Can'tSaveToServer.htm
(may need to hit refresh a few times in safari, other browsers are fine)

Seems like 10.3.4 may have broken it again, although I think you are only
the second report here....use Google to find the thread "Word cannot save.
Too many files open." on this group in the last couple months, and see if
there is any useful information.

DM

 

[Jonathan Abrams]

Thanks for the help! Quick response time you have
I have actually read that article, but thanks anyways.

As for 10.3.4 breaking it again, that I have not heard. If it is true, is
it possible to downgrade MacOSX? Or will I have to reinstall the OS? Would
that even help? Won't the OS upgrade itself?

Could someone from Apple please respond to this?

I just read the article you pointed me to. It seems as though they are
having the exact same problem as me, but with a Novell server instead of a
Samba server. Unfortunately they don't seem to have ever solved it! Arrggh

 

[Jonathan Abrams]

I think I may have found a solution. Of course it will require $100 per
client. I should charge Apple.

http://lists.samba.org/archive/samba/2004-April/084255.html

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Jonathan Abrams]

Update:
This happens in no other program. Also, it only happens with the Word doc
format, there is not problem in word with dealing with rtf and word 4.0
files.

I have also tried installing DAVE (http://www.thursby.com) which replaces
the Mac's windows file sharing tasks, but the problem remains.

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Jonathan,

I don't believe that 10.3.4 broke the fix; I think it's much more likely
that the fix provided by 10.3.3 was not as effective as we'd all expected it
to be.

As for someone from Apple responding ... that certainly will not happen on a
Microsoft newsgroup! You'll have to ask on an Apple forum.

As for why this only happens with Word ... I can only guess that it's
because of the extreme complexity of the application; that and/or possibly
the retention of legacy code that conflicts somehow with the Apple OS. Both
Apple and Microsoft need to spend even more time trying to solve this
persistent problem.

Sorry you're having so much trouble.

--
Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Hi Jonathan,

Yeah, currently it seems to be a known issue without a known solution...the
other thread and the article suggested a couple of small tricks, but not
guaranteed to work. I've reported your situation, and will post on this
thread if I hear anything helpful.... Thanks very much for posting the
updates, perhaps they will help someone out.

You aren't hoping for an Apple response on this group, are you? Have you
tried their forums, maybe they know some tricks there.

You can definitely stop the OS from upgrading itself by setting a preference
somewhere to not schedule automatic updates, but I have no idea whether
downgrading is possible w/o reinstalling (suspect not).

Dayo