BUG: Link "Fatal Error L1085: Cannot Open Temporary File"

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft LINK Utility for MS-DOS, versions 5.0x, 5.1x, 5.3, 5.31.009, and 5.6

SYMPTOMS

The LINK error "fatal error L1085: cannot open temporary file" is received when linking a program consisting of many object modules. When rebooting and making more room in RAM, the error does not occur.

CAUSE

The linker error has nothing to do with available RAM. The fact that the linker worked when the machine is rebooted can be due to any one of several areas of concern:

• The removal of resident software upon rebooting may have removed some interference. Microsoft does not guarantee that its products will work correctly with TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident) software. A TSR can interfere with the finding of the TMP environment variable, so the temporary file will not be created.
• Insufficient file handles can cause this error. The CONFIG.SYS file should have the setting, files=20. Some of the handles may have been freed upon rebooting without the TSRs. If the disk is full, leaving no room for a temporary file to be created, this error will occur.
• This error can also occur if the TMP environment variable is not set up correctly or is pointing to a directory that is full.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with the Microsoft LINK Utility for MS-DOS, versions 5.0x, 5.1x, 5.3, 5.31.009, and 5.6. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.