Upload failed: Server FIle Updated. We're sorry, someone updated the server copy and it's note possible to upload your changes now

Anonymous
2013-07-25T05:35:15+00:00

Windows 8 Pro, Office/Excel, have file in Skydrive folder, open in Excel.  I am the only user on my account and only one PC is up and running.  I save a copy of the file in Excel.  I then get a message that Skydrive file needs attention:

"Upload failed: Server File Updated.  We're sorry, someone updated the server copy and it's note possible to upload your changes now."

Now I am the "someone" who updated the file and then it gives me the choice to keep my local copy or get the outdated server copy.  I usually select keep my local copy as it has the changes I have recently made (and tried to save).  If I select Server Copy, it is missing the last changes I made. 

What is up with this???  I have a local copy, I make a change and save it, why does not Skydrive upload those changes to my account???

Again, I am the only authorized user on my account, I am the only one logged in to Skydrive, I have only the one PC up and running and I have the one copy of the file I am editing and saving copies.  This all used to work fine, but the last week or two it has started doing this.

I have the PC set up to sync to Windows Time Server and that seems to be working, so I don't think it is a time issue.

And if I make changes, save the file, get the error, select Keep Local Copy then click Save again, I think the updates are uploaded fine, no error message after the 2nd save.  Just annoying and time consuming to have to save twice, waiting for the error message and clicking on the keep local copy option.

I initially had this issue in June, first reported in this thread:

then it seemed to resolve itself only to recently return, and is worse since the last Office update that occurred a day or two ago.  It first reappeared when I would make a copy of a local file, then open that file in Excel.  The original file is in my Skydrive folder, it is writeable.  When I then rename and open the copy, I am told the file is not writeable and I have to click the "Edit Workbook" button.  Then when I try and same the file, I get the above "Upload failed:..." message.  Then if I select "Keep my Version" I can then save the file.  Other than updating Office the other day and having an automatic update on Win8 there have been no changes, same original file I am copying.  I submitted copies of the sample file and screenshots in the thread above, so the moderator there should have those copies.  I was instructed to start a thread here to get more help on this issue.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-01-14T12:53:35+00:00

    Dear Moderator

    I have also just lost an important document and all we are asking for is some guidance on how this can be recovered.  I checked for previous versions of my document and there are none, which is very poor given that Word 2013 is supposed to be a sophisticated piece of software

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-12-08T12:10:41+00:00

    You've just saved my life. THANK YOU!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-10-26T02:32:17+00:00

    Hi Everyone!

    I also received this error: "Upload failed: we're sorry someone updated the server copy " with those two seemingly innocuous messages "keep local copy" or "keep server copy."

    I picked "keep local copy"...and lost 9 pages (aka 6 hours) worth of work. And of course, my homework is due tomorrow morning, 8 am. 

    AHHHHH!!!!!

    After much screaming, crying, and frantic googling, I managed to find the back up of the server version. Since I couldn't find any guidance on how to do this and only managed to stumble on it by accident and (of course) through my mad computer skills, I thought I might give a how-to-guide for everyone else who has this problem.

    HOW TO RECOVER YOUR LOST SERVER FILE AFTER THE "UPLOAD FAILED" MESSAGE:

     1) Log into your "online" version of your sky drive: https://onedrive.live.com

     2) All of your files should appear. Find the appropriate file, and open it in the broswer.

     3) Once open, click "File" then "Info" then "Previous Versions" 

     4) For me at least, I was given the current version, and 6 older versions...one of which was the actual document I needed. 

     5) Click "Restore" (which I didn't dare do) or "Download" and then open and save your file.

    Note: my Microsoft word is set to back up automatically every 10 minutes. I've never seen it do this. However, looking at the "older versions" on my web browser, it looks like it automatically backs up my word document every time I save. So hopefully, even if you don't have the autosave selected, your file will still be there. 

    Thank goodness. Let me know if this helps everyone!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-09-23T16:06:21+00:00

    This issue is still occurring a year after the original post...has Microsoft identified the issue and taken responsibility to fix it?  Excel and Skydrive don't talk to each other - that is the problem. 

    As per comments by others- we know how to use our computers. These 'quick fix' questions are just silly, leading to 'advice' that provides no real solution. And it can't - the issue is between Excel and Skydrive.

    Your best advice to users is:

    'Just wait it out folks, Skydrive will eventually wake up about 20 minutes later to allow Excel documents to upload and clear up the error messages. We appreciate your patience while we work to eradicate this frustrating issue with the next version of Office.'

    Or use Drop Box...sorry but it's a good alternative. Maybe ask Drew and Arash for some pointers.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-03-20T13:46:21+00:00

    was told there was a conflict and asked if I wanted to keep my local copy or the server copy

    in the Office Upload Center (OUC) you can – if necessary – view both copies first and then decide which one to keep:

    Resolve conflicts in the Upload Center

    much wasted time, confusion and irritation can be eliminated by a good understanding of how to work with the OUC

    it is a sophisticated – yet straightforward – piece of software

    and despite ramblings in various internet forums discussing ways to 'kill' the OUC

    the reality is that it's the Office™ user's best friend

    Microsoft Office Upload Center

    note that often many issues vanish by selecting Delete cached files  (similar in principle to clearing a browser's cache)

    Office Document Cache settings

    for Microsoft® Office files (DOCX, XLSX ...) the Office Upload Center handles all data interaction – up and down – with the onedrive.com 'cloud' server

    while the OneDrive sync client (software) handles all other file types (JPG, PDF, MP3 ...)

    they work together:

    Office and OneDrive  (formerly SkyDrive)

    multiple unsaved versions ('conflicts') can be avoided by properly saving and closinga file when finished editing

    from Microsoft:

    Save a document

    To save a document for the first time, do the following:

    1. Click the File tab.
    2. Click Save As.
    3. Browse to the location where you’d like to save your document. 

     NOTE    To save the document on your computer, choose a folder under Computer or click Browse. To save your document online, choose a locationunder Places or Add a Location. When your files are online, you can share, give feedback and work together on them in real time.

    1. Click Save.

     NOTE   Word automatically saves files in the .docx file format. To save your document in a format other than .docx, click the Save as type list, and then select the file format that you want.

    To save your document as you continue to work on it, click Save in the Quick Access Toolbar or Ctrl+S.

    Then

    File>Close

    or

    File>Exit

    end of story

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