Cannot Open File with Same Name from Second Floppy Disk

 Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
Article ID: Q98901
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

Word opens a second copy of the first file you open instead of opening the second file if you:

  1. Open a file from a floppy disk in Word.
2. Remove that floppy disk from the disk drive. 3. Insert a second floppy disk. 4. Open another file with the same path and filename. 5. The following dialog appears: 

   Do you want to revert to the saved '<filename>.doc'?

   If you click Yes, Word opens the file that is on the A Drive. If you
   click No, Word brings the open version of <myfile>.doc to the front.
This happens because Word cannot open two files with the same path and filename at the same time. This can occur using floppy disks or other removable media.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem does not occur with files stored on the local hard disk because MS-DOS does not allow duplicate filenames in a directory. You can, however, store a file with the same name on each of two different floppy disks or other removable media. In this case, both files have identical paths and filenames.

Note: Similar behavior occurs using the File command from the Insert menu.

WORKAROUND

  • Copy the files into different subdirectories on the hard disk or give each file a different name and copy them to the same directory.

    -or-

  • Copy the files to the same floppy disk, but give each file a unique name or copy the files to different subdirectories on the floppy disk.

NOTE: Microsoft does not recommend that you rename the files on the individual floppy disks so each has a different name. Word creates temporary files on the floppy disk when you open a file from a floppy disk. If you insert a different floppy disk, Word may request that you insert the previous floppy disk so it can access the temporary files it needs. This process may lead to loss of data.

KBCategory:
KBSubcategory:
Additional query words: check 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c winword2
word6 winword
Version : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
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