'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' What is the simplest way to resolve this please!

Anonymous

When I open Word I get this message every time: 'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' Word then crashes very often without autosaving.

I've found many people asking this question but I utterly do not understand the answers people have given them! Is there a simple way to resolve this - I know literally nothing about computers! Please help with the easiest solution possible.

Many thanks!

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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K MVP Volunteer Moderator

When I open Word I get this message every time: 'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' Word then crashes very often without autosaving.

I've found many people asking this question but I utterly do not understand the answers people have given them! Is there a simple way to resolve this - I know literally nothing about computers! Please help with the easiest solution possible.

Many thanks!

The error message "Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable". Can be caused by incorrect registry values in the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders.

Click Start and in the start search field, type

Regedit

and press enter.

In the registry editor, browse to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders

On the right hand pane, check the value data for Cache.

It has to be %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files.

If it is different, double click on Cache and type:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

under value data and click ok. Close the registry and restart the computer and check if it works.

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80 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-04-07T02:32:13+00:00

Dear EAlcan,

Let me try re-wording. While in your E-mail click- attach, the E-mail should then give you a pop-up/out, - browse- it will be showing YOUR FOLDERS LIBRARY- go to the Folder ( for example- My Documents), click the folder that has the document that you want to attach,BEFORE !!! you click on the file that you want to attach, look to the top right of your Screen. THERE IS A LITTLE WHITE ICON THERE which is right under the RECTANGLE that reads: Search Doc... with a symbol of a magnifying glass, which is just to the LEFT of the ICON- QUESTIOM MARK, HOVER YOUR CURSOR OVER THE WHITE ICON ITwill say**"Hide the preview pane**,NOW CLICK ON THAT WHITE ICON, TO SELECT: HIDE THE PREVIEW PANE. Next, CLICK ON THE FILE THAT YOU WANT TO ATTACH,and if that has been the problem, YOU WILL BE AUTOMAICALLY BACK IN YOUR E-MAIL AND THE FILE WILL ATTACH. God Bless you and yours, hope this works!
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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2013-04-07T02:02:54+00:00

The button to show\hide the preview pane is to the left of the Question Mark button, between that button and the dropdown that is used to change the view of the files.

The error message "Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable". can also be caused by incorrect registry values in the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders.

Click Start and in the start search field, type

Regedit

and press enter.

In the registry editor, browse to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders

On the right hand pane, check the value data for Cache.

It has to be %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files.

If it is different, double click on Cache and type:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

under value data and click ok. Close the registry and restart the computer and check if it has solved the problem.
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Anonymous

2013-04-06T16:17:36+00:00

I have the same problem. I sign in using yahoo to my email account but when I try to attach a word or pdf document to email, I get the error message saying word cannot create work file and check environmental. I do not see a question mark on right hand side with option to show the preview pane. What else can I do?

I have tried uninstalling Office Professional 2010 and reinstalling it again and I've already tried what others have said in previous threads but nothing seems to work. The only way I can attach a document is if I send email thru Outlook. I really don't want to be opening Outlook every time I need to send an email with an attachment. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Thanx!
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Anonymous

2013-04-05T18:55:29+00:00

Dear Jo-Ess,

I,m 55 years old, could not find any work without basic computer skills. Took a 2 year Drafting and Design Tech. AAS Program , graduated this past May GPA=3.95. I always used the live.edu E-mail service and NEVER had any problems attaching E-mails. VERY frustrating for me to have the same exact problem, had the Degree but could not post RESUMEs.

Two months ago on this Site, Sam Erp said

While in E-mail, Click ATTACH(ments), find the file or folder that you want to attach, NOW HERE's the FIX: IF THE PREVIEW PANE (WHICH IS BY THE LITTLE ? MARK on the top right) says SHOW THE PREVIEW PANE, THEN CLICK : HIDE THE PREVIEW PANE.!!!!! Click open File AND THEN IT WILL ATTACH TO YOUR E-MAIL.

Works every time for me- Good Luck, God Bless,

Jim Colvin
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