Off Err Msg: "The Folder (or Path) Isn't Accessible. . ."

 Last reviewed: December 16, 1996
Article ID: Q138057
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you try to save a document, one of the following error messages may appear

  • The folder "<path>" isn't accessible. It may be on an unavailable volume, or protected with a password.

    -or-

  • The filename, specification, or location <filename> is not valid. Check your typing.

    -or-

  • The file name contents must specify a wildcard query, or the name of a single file to save.

where <path> is the location you are saving the file to, and <filename> is the name of the file.

CAUSE

  • The place where you are trying to save your file is not available.

    -or-

  • You are trying to save a file with an invalid character in the filename. Some characters have special purposes and aren't valid within filenames. Examples of these characters are: 

          < (less-than sign)
      > (greater-than sign)
      | (pipe)
      / (forward slash)
      \ (backward slash)
      : (colon)

WORKAROUND

If the place where you are trying to save your file is unavailable, save the file to a different location.

If you have tried to use an unusual character in the filename, remove it from the filename.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The following characters cannot be included in filenames in Windows 95: 

   \ / * ? " < > | :
For example, the error message 

   The folder "(path)" isn't accessible. It may be on an unavailable
   volume, or protected with a password."
is either caused by a genuinely unavailable destination, or it can be caused by having the "<" or ">" symbol in the filename.

Similarly, the error message 

   The filename, specification, or location (filename) is not valid.
   Check your typing.
can be caused by including "/" or "\" in the name, as both of these characters are typically used when indicating a subfolder or network directory.

Depending on the placement of any of these characters, different error messages may be returned.

For example, trying to save a file named "test/test" (when there is no subfolder named "test") will return the following error message: 

   The folder "(path)" isn't accessible. It may be on an unavailable
   volume, or protected with a password.
On the other hand, trying to save a file named "test/" will return the following error message 

   Cannot save. "(filename)" is an invalid filename.
For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142982
   TITLE     : How Windows 95 Generates 8.3 File Names from Long File
               Names

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120138
   TITLE     : Errors Creating Files or Folders in the Root Directory

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbusage kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: offwin
Additional reference words: word95 word7 7.00 7.00a vertical bar diagonal
8.00 word8 word97 97

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Last reviewed: December 16, 1996
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