I have been struggling with a Microsoft Word problem for a few weeks now. Whenever I opened a document and then began changing it, I occasionally received an error message. Once the error message appeared,all the buttons and options within Word became grayed out. This prevented me from saving my work that I had done up to that point. It became frustrating to say the least.
To find a solution to the problem I turned to the Internet. It appears that this error is quite popular as a search in Google produced many results. I tried many of the solutions, but none seemed to have worked for me. It wasn’t until I decided to look further into the error that I found the solution that appears to have fixed the problem.
Word 2003 Error
While working on a Word document I encountered the following error:
You are working without a Word work file and memory is nearly full. Save your work
The error prevents me from saving my work, contradicting the error message, which means that I lost anything that I changed in the document since the last save. The error is also confusing as I have 2GB of memory in the computer that was running word, and there was plenty of memory available.
When I did a search online, there were many results for that particular error message. Some indicate that the problem was from Word 2000, while others from newer versions. I tried various solutions, but none seemed to work. I decided to look further.
The Solution
While reading some of the solutions I noticed that some had made reference to the Word cache size, which is defaulted to 64. While I couldn’t find where to set this in Word, I decided to see if it can be changed in the Windows registry. Usually settings such as this are located in the registry. I managed to find a site that listed the key to change.
The following steps outline the process to modify the Word cache size:
- Close any open Word windows.
- Open the Windows registry by running “regedit.exe” from a command prompt.
- Once the registry editor is opened, navigate to “HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0WordOptions”.
This key is for Word 2003, indicated by the 11.0 version. You will need to navigate to the key indicating your Word version.
- Click the “Options” key on the left to display all the values within that key. In an empty location on the right, right-click and select “New->DWORD value”.
- Type “CACHESIZE” as the value name and press “Enter”.
- Double-click the value “CACHESIZE” to open the “Edit DWORD Value” dialog box.
- Under “Base”, select “Decimal”. Under “Value Data”, type “512″ (without the quotes).
- Click the “OK” button to accept your changes and close the dialog.
- Close the registry editor.
When I relaunched Word, I never received the error message displayed above. This registry change seemed to have fixed the error. From what I read, you can set the CACHESIZE value to any value that is a multiple of 64 up to a maximum of 1024. While I can’t guarantee that it will solve the problem if you experienced the error, it may just be the fix you need.
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on June 10, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I tried it and it seems to have fixed the problem for me as well.
Thank you very much!
on July 2, 2009 at 10:51 am
Seemed to work for a while but then after a day I got the message again and Word crashed. Still on the hunt for a cure for this sudden problem.
on July 2, 2009 at 11:51 am
I was getting the same problem as well. I increase the value from 512 to 1024 and it seems to have cleared up again. For me, it appears to appear if I do a lot of copying and pasting.
on July 10, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Before I increased the value, I tried doing a repair to Word. Worked for a while, then crashed. I thought that next time it crashed, I would increase the value but it’s been a week and it has not crashed again.
I’ve used this same Word program on this same computer for 84 years and copy and paste all day long. I have no explanation. But all seems to be well now.
Thanks!
on October 6, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I tried your solution and it worked very well. Thanks.
on August 29, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Thank you very much for posting this fix!! This problem has been giving me fits, and I had no idea it would have such a simple and easy solution!
on March 7, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Also worked for me. Thank you very much!
on March 7, 2010 at 9:57 pm
No love for me – still crashing. Put the latest office SP and sweet for then on.
on April 22, 2010 at 1:45 am
Thank you very much. this has solved the problem. You are genious !
on May 11, 2010 at 2:03 am
I tried it, and working fine. Thanks a lot
…..
on May 27, 2010 at 9:24 pm
It has worked for me so far.
But if you get the error again, click the “X” to close the error box and you should be allowed to click only the save icon…then reopen the file with Microsoft Works….it should be complete for you to copy, paste and in a new Word file.
on June 14, 2010 at 7:46 am
Thank you very much for you advice so well described! I did and the problem has solved.
on July 29, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Very many thanks, your fix worked fine for me.
Thank you for the very clear instructions.
RFon.
on August 19, 2010 at 10:27 am
This fix didn’t work for me. Here’s the one that did. I wish I could remember where I got so I could give credit where credit is due. Hopefully, the paragraphs and line spacing in this message will be preserved. If it gets all run on by this web site, bear with me.
The problem is often caused by WinXP rather than Word. The Word work file is supposed to be located under the user’s profile on the C:\ drive. Plugging in removable storage devices (such as a USB flash drive) to a WinXP computer can somehow shift the Word work file onto the removable drive. Once the removable drive is unplugged, Word can no longer find its work file.
Open Regedit, but navigate to:
“HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders”.
Inside that location will be a key named “Cache”. It’s data value should be something like “%USERPROFILE%\temp”. If, instead, the data value is set to something like “G:\temp”, you’ve found your problem. The cache has been moved to a nonexistent removable drive.
The solution is to change the data value back to “%USERPROFILE%\temp”. Then exit Regedit. Double check that you do, in fact, have this temp folder. If your log on is called “Paul”, then navigate in Explorer or My Computer to “C:\Documents and Settings\Paul”. Check that you have a folder under “Paul” named “temp”. You’re good to go if you do, or make one if you don’t.
on August 19, 2010 at 11:40 am
Interesting. I haven’t run into that problem myself, but the solution you provide could help others. Thanks for sharing.
on August 19, 2010 at 11:04 am
To follow up, I should have told you how you go about changing the value of the “Cache” key in Regedit if you need to.
Right click on the word “Cache”, NOT on the data value. You get a pop up box, where the topmost line is “Modify” in bold type. Left click on “Modify”. You get a new pop up box where the existing data value is shown and can be edited.
on August 19, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Many thanks Paul,
I have C&Pd your solution and put it in my ‘Faults folder’
just in case I or someone has this problem.
The original solution did work for me, however it’as always nice to have a second solution as a backup.
I checked and find I do have ‘temp’ in docs and setting under my log on.
Ron.
on August 19, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I’m glad one of the solutions worked for you.
on September 1, 2010 at 10:29 am
Thanks to Paul Turner, fix worked for me! The problem seemed to be caused by the Dmailer backup software for my WD external drive.
on September 1, 2010 at 10:57 am
I’m glad you found a solution to your issue. Thanks for visiting.
on October 3, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I did the first solution and that solved it.
I checked the registry key based on the 2nd solution and indeed it too was set to a fixed “temporary internet files” folder on a removable drive! I fixed that too according to the recommendation.
THANK YOU!!!
ke
on October 4, 2010 at 8:38 am
I’m glad you found both solutions to work for you.
on October 9, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Hi, this is a great solution, both fixes have helped. In following Paul’s suggestion, I saw that my DMailer awful external hard drive is the cause also of my favorites disappearing from Internet Explorer. Paul, what exactly should I enter to get this back: maybe “%USERPROFILE%favorites” ?
I am not a techie at all and very wary of what to enter. Please advise!
on October 10, 2010 at 10:25 am
You could try that, or you could hardcode the path into that key.
on October 12, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Hi Paul, I did it and my favorites came back! Amazing.
on October 12, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I’m glad you got your favorites working again.
on November 17, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I”ve gotten this message but I’m working on a mac OS X. Any ideas out there on how to fix it
on November 18, 2010 at 8:27 am
I’m not sure how to fix it on Macs, but I’ll see what I can find out.
on January 19, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Thank you soooo much. I was going crazy with this error message for days.
on February 14, 2011 at 5:53 pm
The ” you are working without a word work file” is happening to me on my MAC, any suggestion for us MAC users? Also, at the same time this happened, I am unable to edit files in Preview as it says I am not authorized even though I created the document. Going to “Get Info” and enabling read write does not help. ANy ideas???
Thanks
on February 14, 2011 at 5:58 pm
PS – My problem above is still the same even after I removed Word and reinstalled it.
Sami
on April 14, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Many many people have reported the problem. But a solution is never to be found anywhere.
HOWEVER “THE SOLUTION” as described above, seems to work, for the time being.
Thank you for this excellent advice, which seems the only one to be found on Internet.
I installed it only one hour ago and I’m still testing Word. I guess “The solution” is really THE solution ! I wonder why Microsoft has not been reacting at all with a working fix for this ongoing issue.
REMARKS:
1. I can’t figure out who started the topic (where is the name of the author at the top topic ?)
2. I still have to make the second fix/check suggestion (made by Paul Turner), altough I don’t received the error message so far.
3. I didn’t understand his follow-up message :
[quote]To follow up, I should have told you how you go about changing the value of the “Cache” key in Regedit if you need to. Right click on the word “Cache”, NOT on the data value. You get a pop up box, where the topmost line is “Modify” in bold type. Left click on “Modify”. You get a new pop up box where the existing data value is shown and can be edited.[/quote]
Maybe the whole “solution” should be edited again to make clear for less trained users as myself ? But I guess there will be no need (for me) to come back to this registry key.
Thank you again.
on November 1, 2011 at 11:30 am
Many thanks, this was very helpful, although the problem has recurred a couple of times. I tried going a step further, increasing CACHESIZE to 1024 (per final para), but the problem still comes up from time to time. Is there any mileage in increasing cachesize beyond 1024 (although you do say this is the max)?
on April 14, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Forgive me not “to comment” on the article, but to ask a question that might help others as well. I checked following key to verify “Cache” data.
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserShell Folders
The existing data (surprisingly) points to Temporary Internet Files, in this way :
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
There is however an already EXISTING folder named TEMP for my account under local settings : C:\Documents and Settings\Georges\Local Settings\Temp
Should the registry key be modified, so to point towards this TEMP folder, instead of pointing to the existing reference “Temporary Internet Files”. Those files are once in a while erased anyway ! In this case, it’s just like having the cache on a removed USB stick.
Please confirm what I guess I must do. Thanks.
Thank you
on April 14, 2011 at 8:04 pm
The registry key you specified looks good. It is setup that way on my system. As long as the Temporary Internet Files folder is on your local hard drive, you should be good.
on April 15, 2011 at 4:08 am
Thank you Paul Salmon for your kind and immediate reply.
It seems that in your first explanation , you were advising to use a (new or existing) folder “Temp” being located directly under Username : C:\Docs&Settings\Username\Temp\
Now you tell us that on your machine, the folder is actually located in the sub-folder “Temporary Internet Files”.
I suppose you wanted to completely ISOLATE all the stuff related to Word activities, from all the other stuff present in Tempary Internet Files ? It is also much more logical to do so !
Anyway I got your message. In other words, no matter how, as long as there is an existing folder anywhere on the user account settings on C: drive, it must be referenced (in the indicated registry data), with the correct corresponding pathname.
This would make Word running without the irritating message, which is paralyzing Word in so many private and business machines. I’m still in test now. If I’m not coming back here it means that the problem as been cured.
Thank you again.