There is a serious disk error on file ~Word Work File S{A1F41F30-FB84-B649-9F8A-F0A7D2698BBF}.tmp

Hi all,  

I posted a while back. I mentioned I am writing my dissertation and have lost some of it due to this problem despite making back ups. I have spoken to a level 3 technician at microsoft, who through a process of elimination showed it was much more likely to be a fault with my mac rather than microsoft. He basically downloded microsoft 11 (which he claimed had not been updated since it was last registered as working) to see if it would display the same errors as my 2016 version - it did. He suggested that since no alterations/updates had been made to microsoft office 2011 (I am undecided on this) it must be an IOS update which had caused the fault as the faults (error messages/not saving etc) were identical in both 2011 and 2016 office. I called up apple and got through to a helpful senior supervisor (level 2) who agreed with the microsoft technicians reasoning. We tried operating office in safe mode and found no errors occured but obviously knowing that it often takes a while for errors to start occuring. We also used first aid and found nothing significant. Based on the above he suggested I redownlod the most recent ios update and see if the problem occured- he thought this would be the most likely solution.  Having redownloaded ios the technician from microsoft called back and suggested that to give it the best chance of working i must delete every part of the microsoft office package. He has emailed me a step my step guide to guide me through. I am about to try this and then redownload office 2016 and hope/pray that the problem doesnt persist. Apologies for any grammar/spelling mistake - i dont have much time at the moment what with my dissertation. Hopefully between us we can get to the route of the problem!

ps. The microsoft technician did mention the fast route update but said it 'might work' and this was before he tried the process of elimination which obviously suggested it wasnt a microsoft problem. It stikes me (as others have mentioned as well) that its a pretty useless idea attempting to get feedback from amatuer computer users rather than throwing everything at it their end.

When this error first started happening for me back in March/April - I went through the same process - a helpful MS agent telling me it was apple and apple telling me to do a reinstall of the OS and then reload MS office again.  The problem went away for a while (but wasn't in full writing mode then so not much got tested).  Apple also wondered if it was a faulty OS on my new laptop.  These agents are really not a productive source of knowledge and usually a waste of time.  This forum is achieving far more than any calls I have had the misfortune to make.

When I updated to the latest Office version 15.24 the problem started up again - even worse than before.

Its likely between the both of them - apple and MS office in terms of some compatability issue with some of its computers- or everyone would be having the problem.

The amateur feedback is required to make sure MS gets communicated with and we all know and can track that we are not alone but part of a large contingent.  MS are unlikely to report up individual cases - esp as you are lumbered with tier 1's and less likely to do anything, as its not in the public arena. This way there is pressure to make them act. 

As said I am using google docs.

This issue has not been fixed. Please can you provide an update?