Unable to Save in Word 2003 - Nothing Happens

[Peter Bruce]

I have spent hours trying to solve the following problem and have found a
simple solution although I had failed to find the solution using search
engines. The problem related to the location of temporary internet files on
his account. Posting in case anyone else has same problem.

Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate
Product: Word 2003

When my son clicked the save icon on the toolbar nothing happened and I mean
nothing (no dialog box to select directory if it was a new document and no
save for an existing document). If he tried to exit without saving it asked
him if he wanted to save his document. If he clicked Yes then it stayed in
his document and nothing happened (i.e no save). If he clicked No his
changes were not saved and Word exited.

On further investigation I found the following:
(a) Launching Word 2003 in Safe Mode permitted him to save,
(b) Running Word 2003 "as an Administrator" permitted him to save,
(c) Restarting Windows Vista in Safe Mode and logging in to his account
permitted him to save,
(d) The problem did not exist for other accounts on the same computer,
(e) The following things did not work: Detect and Reapir within Word,
Disabling Add Ins, Resetting his profile in Office etc.

I had tried using Process Monitor (available as download from Microsoft
Site) to find the problem with no success but today found the reason for his
problems from process monitor. It was prohibiting him from creating a file
in C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word . I first tried to see
if I could give him access to this folder but there was no tab to do this
within Properties Dialog Box (probably a special type of file rather than a
normal folder?). I looked at where my Temporary Internet files were stored
(from within internet explorer) and found that they were stored within my
profile and not in the C:\Windows directory. I then went into Internet
Explorer (Tools, Internet Options, within Browsing History Section I clicked
the Settings button, and then the Move Folder .. button) to move his
temporary internet files to
C:\Users\xxxxxxx\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\temporary internet files
where the xxxxxxx was my son's account name. Once Vista had logged him off
and moved the temporary internet files he logged back on and Hey Presto he
could save within Word.

On a sour note I have found the Microsoft knowledge base to be a good source
for solving problems but I was stuck with this problem and could not find a
solution in the knowledge base. I tried the Microsoft Email support service
and it was a very unpleasant experience. The person I was dealing with was
not helpful and I gave up after two emails. I then tried to complain using
the link in the email but it rejected my email and I gave up completely. The
analyst would have had two emails (my Original Problem statement which
unfortunately their system did not save/email back to me) and my only direct
email to him. In both cases he seemed to ask me to complete steps which I
had already told him I had tried. If I ever have a questionnaire on Support
it will say knowledge base Good, Support by Email/Phone the worst rating I
can possibly give it.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Peter

Thanks for that information which could be most helpful.

I am at loss to understand why Word was trying to use such a strange
location for temp file storage. When you installed Office, are you sure that
you were logged in as Administrator and are you sure that you installed it
for All Users and not just for your own profile?

 

[Peter Bruce]

Office 2003 Professional was originally installed on Windows XP Professional
and then I upgraded to Vista Ultimate without uninstalling. I had
administrator priveleges within XP when I installed Office. I must have
installed it to all users as My Wife's and Daughter's account can save in
Word and at some stage my son could save also. I do not know why or when my
son's temporary internet files were directed to C:\Windows\Temporary
Internet Files rather than his directory within c:\Users but it may have
happened after upgrading to Vista. As to why Word tries to create files
within the temporary internet files directory I don't know. The file names
contained the characters WRF and the extension was .tmp. I apologise that I
cannot give more details as I have not kept the process monitor log but the
result of Word trying to create the files was ACCESS DENIED. The following
article http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=810022 suggests that
there may have been some problems in Office 2007 in relation to the location
of a users temporary internet files. My son is using the desktop machine now
so I cannot see if Word is still trying to create files in temporary
internet files. I have just tried saving on My laptop with process monitor
turned on and can see no reference to the temporary internet files folder.
(My laptop was shipped with Vista installed and I subsequently installed
Office 2003). The fact that I have only found one or two similar problems
after Googling suggests it is an uncommon problem.

Peter Bruce.

 

[Peter Bruce]

Following on from message below I have now checked and Word 2003 is no
longer trying to Save .tmp files in his temporary internet files folder?!

 

[Terry Farrell]

Pater

Thanks for the follow-ups. Strangely bizarre (like many computer problems).

Terry