'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!

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

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.

0 comments

80 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-03-16T18:51:21+00:00

Doug

thank you for this advice. The problem had been haunting us for several days, and I looked everywhere for the solution, the Microsoft pages only sent me in circles. Then found your advice above , which has worked, I am now a very happy person
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2014-12-31T03:56:48+00:00

Dear LawrenceAllen, I noticed your suggestion and will keep it in mind, even though I do not have that problem right now. I just got an AAS in Drafting And Design Technology in 2012, and it was a full 2- year college campus program, with heavy PC usage using Autodesk ACAD programs. On AutoCAD, while making a drawing, one can left, then right click on a line or object, and the Properties Pallet will pop-up and allow the user to change the "attributes" of a line, object, text, dimensioning, etc. I wish I knew more of what a user can do with the Poperies Pallet in Word Doc.s, as I suspect that viruses and updates do change the properties of some of my files, folder, and or Word Doc.s.

Thanks so much for your help, to me and others, may that God bless you and yours always, Jim Colvin
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2014-12-31T03:32:19+00:00

Mark, You are very welcome. Being that I'm fifty-seven years of age, I have only had four years of computer experience. The same problem with making attachments to E-mails using Windows 7, and primarily with documents I had composed using Microsoft Word 2010, began to occur on this Dell Studio 1558, about two years ago. I was DISTRESSED, to say the least, and like you I TRIED everything, even "repairing" Microsoft Word 2010, various FREE online safety scanners, (Micrsoft Free Online Safety scanner, ESET, Malwarebytes, et.al). The HIDE THE PREVIEW PANE solution, I found here on Microsoft Community, which has been invaluable source of help, from that of novice users to highly skilled computer technicians etc. It is often encouraging when I do develop a problem on my PC, that others are sharing the same problem and many solutions can be found if you take the time to try different wordings of your problem in the search box here, and by perusing of the many threads therein.

    Another problem that I had with making attachments, was solved with an answer I found here. Apparently my Canon Pixma MP495 was causing the same problem, perhaps 6 months after I found the HIDE THE PREVIEW PANE solution here. The FIX to the printer problem was to go to the Canon web-site, and by merely up-dating the Canon Printer program on my PC (for free, and easy to do), via their web-site. I've since not had the attachment problems since.

     I am so glad that I could pass on a help, may that God bless you and yours always, I pray that you have a Happy New Year, Jim Colvin

     PS- I am especially pleased when someone takes the time to express their appreciation for help to me, that makes it all the more worthwhile . It is a simple act of courtesy, one of many that have sadly been disappearing from modern American "society". Shalom
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2014-12-29T21:51:29+00:00

Jim,

Thank you!!! After at least an hour of total frustration, your solution of turning off the Preview Pane worked! I was going nuts wondering why the issue was suddenly happening when I'd never had the problem before. Was wondering about a virus, permission settings, Explorer patches/updates, the fact some of my Word docs are 2003 (no longer supported), and everything else.... But your solution works perfectly and easily on all my Word docs, when I attach to emails.

I really appreciate it!

-Mark
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments