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

Anonymous
2012-01-11T10:55:22+00:00

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!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2012-01-11T20:35:19+00:00

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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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2012-02-13T09:42:08+00:00

    It is the whole Office application that you need to repair.

    --
    Hope this helps.

    Doug Robbins - Word MVP,
    Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org
    Posted via the Community Bridge

    "Lynhood" wrote in message news:******@communitybridge.codeplex.com.word...

    It could be.  Try repairing Word via the Control Panel Add/Remove programs facility.

    --
    Hope this helps.

    Doug Robbins - Word MVP,
    Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org

    Posted via the Community Bridge

    "Lynhood" wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

    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.

    When I try to open a Word 2007 file, I get the above message also. I checked my registry, and cache had the exact words you typed. This JUST started today, after I'd run adaware, which cleaned a trojan 32 worm/virus? off my pc. Could that be it? I use windows security for my virus protector. 

      [http://answers.microsoft.com/message/cc925caf-90cd-443e-8d31-119e6533dbb6?threadId=710178ff-d9b9-4c2a-b7d3-b95cd06e1525](http://answers.microsoft.com/message/cc925caf-90cd-443e-8d31-119e6533dbb6?threadId=710178ff-d9b9-4c2a-b7d3-b95cd06e1525)

    Meta tags: windows_xp; word; office_2010

    Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:43:01 +0000: CreateMessage Lynhood

    Thanks, Doug. But, when I went to programs & Features (win7 64 bit), If I click on MS Office Home & Student 2007, Repair is not an option. There is not a program called: MS Word

    http://answers.microsoft.com/message/cfa07230-d5d4-4d50-a1a2-4b68a444ecac?threadId=710178ff-d9b9-4c2a-b7d3-b95cd06e1525
    Meta tags: word; windows_xp; office_2010

    Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:44:09 +0000: CreateMessage Lynhood

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-12T20:44:09+00:00

    It could be.  Try repairing Word via the Control Panel Add/Remove programs facility.

    --

    Hope this helps.

    Doug Robbins - Word MVP,

    Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org

    Posted via the Community Bridge

    "Lynhood" wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

    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.

    When I try to open a Word 2007 file, I get the above message also. I checked my registry, and cache had the exact words you typed. This JUST started today, after I'd run adaware, which cleaned a trojan 32 worm/virus? off my pc. Could that be it? I use windows security for my virus protector.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/message/cc925caf-90cd-443e-8d31-119e6533dbb6?threadId=710178ff-d9b9-4c2a-b7d3-b95cd06e1525

    Meta tags: windows_xp; word; office_2010

    Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:43:01 +0000: CreateMessage Lynhood

    Thanks, Doug. But, when I went to programs & Features (win7 64 bit), If I click on MS Office Home & Student 2007, Repair is not an option. There is not a program called: MS Word

    Was this answer helpful?

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  4. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2012-02-12T20:01:55+00:00

    It could be.  Try repairing Word via the Control Panel Add/Remove programs facility.

    --
    Hope this helps.

    Doug Robbins - Word MVP,
    Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org
    Posted via the Community Bridge

    "Lynhood" wrote in message news:******@communitybridge.codeplex.com.word...

    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.

    When I try to open a Word 2007 file, I get the above message also. I checked my registry, and cache had the exact words you typed. This JUST started today, after I'd run adaware, which cleaned a trojan 32 worm/virus? off my pc. Could that be it? I use windows security for my virus protector.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/message/cc925caf-90cd-443e-8d31-119e6533dbb6?threadId=710178ff-d9b9-4c2a-b7d3-b95cd06e1525
    Meta tags: windows_xp; word; office_2010

    Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:43:01 +0000: CreateMessage Lynhood

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