WD97: Error Message: "Word Cannot Open the Document"

ID: Q216628

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

Under the following circumstances, an error message appears when you try to open a Word document.

Case 1: The Document Is Protected with Multiple Passwords

The document is not opened.

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:
  • The Temp directory variable points to a drive with more than 2 gigabytes (GB) of free disk space available.

    -and-



  • The document is protected with two passwords (an Open password and a Modify password).


After you correctly type the first password (called the Open password) for access to the file, a second dialog box appears with these options:
(1) enter an open password or alternatively, (2) access the file read- only by clicking the Read-only button.
After you click Read-only (without entering a modify password), the document fails to open.

Case 2: You Try to Open a Document That Is in Use by Another Person

When you attempt to open a document that is in use by another user, you are given the option of opening a read-only copy of the document, and the following message appears:
<path><document.doc> is in use by <username>. Do you want to make a copy?
where <path><document.doc> is the location and name of the document, and <username> is the name of the person who has the document open.

After you click OK, the following error message appears:
Word cannot open the document. Try one or more of the following:

- On the File Menu, click open to open the document.
- Make sure the document has a .doc extension.
After you click OK, the document fails to open.

Case 3: You Attempt to Open a Document Saved with Read-only Recommended

When you attempt to open a document that has been saved with Read-only recommended, the following error message appears:
Word cannot open the document. Try one or more of the following:

- On the File Menu, click open to open the document.
- Make sure the document has a .doc extension.
After you click OK, the document fails to open.


CAUSE

A variable limit was reached. Therefore, current disk free space appeared to be less than the amount required for creating an associated temp file.


RESOLUTION

If you are using Microsoft Word 97 for Windows Service Release 1, obtain Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).


WORKAROUND

Workaround for Case 1

To temporarily work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Reset the TEMP Environment Variable

Set the TEMP environment variable to point to an FAT or NTFS drive that contains less than 2 GB of free space.

To do this if you are running Windows NT, follow these steps:

  1. Close all open programs.


  2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.


  3. Double-click the System icon and click the Environment tab.


  4. In the User Variable box, select the TEMP variable.


  5. In the Value box, type the path to the new location--a drive containing less than 2 GB of free space.


  6. Restart your computer.


If you are running Windows 95 or Windows 98, you need to add the TEMP variable to the Autoexec.bat file. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.


  2. Type sysedit and click OK.


  3. Find the Autoexec.bat file and add the following to the end of the file name:
    Set temp = c:\temp
    Where c:\temp is the path to the new location--a drive containing less than 2 GB of free space.




  4. Restart your computer.


Method 2: Create a Swap File to Reduce the Amount of Perceived Disk Space

On the drive on which the Temp directory is located, create a swap file large enough to create the impression of less free disk space (less than 2 GB).

Method 3: Use NTFS to Set the Permissions of the File

Give the document Read-Only permission at the NTFS file level rather than protecting it with a password in Word.

Workaround for Case 2

Method 1: Reset the TEMP Environment Variable

Set the TEMP environment variable to point to an FAT or NTFS drive that contains less than 2 GB of free space. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Close all open applications.


  2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.


  3. Double-click the System icon and click the Environment tab.


  4. In the User Variable box, select the TEMP variable.


  5. In the Value box, type the path to the new location--a drive containing less than 2 GB of free space.


  6. Restart your computer.


Method 2: Create a Swap File to Reduce the Amount of Perceived Disk Space

On the drive on which the Temp directory is located, create a swap file large enough to create the impression of less free disk space (less than 2 GB).

Workaround for Case 3

Method 1: Reset the TEMP Environment Variable

Set the TEMP environment variable to point to an FAT or NTFS drive that contains less than 2 GB of free space. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Close all open applications.


  2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.


  3. Double-click the System icon and click the Environment tab.


  4. In the User Variable box, select the TEMP variable.


  5. In the Value box, type the path to the new location--a drive containing less than 2 GB of free space.


  6. Restart your computer.


Method 2: Create a Swap File to Reduce the Amount of Perceived Disk Space

On the drive on which the Temp directory is located, create a swap file large enough to create the impression of less free disk space (less than 2 GB).


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Word listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

For additional information about SR-2, please click the article number(s) below to view the article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q151261 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-2


MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q189439 WD97: Word Fails to Open: 'Cannot Open the Existing ...'

Additional query words: readonly read only temp dir directory failed to open password

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: September 14, 1999
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