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

Anonymous
2016-05-30T19:08:24+00:00

everytime i save a word file on my mac i get this message. 

i'm using ms office v15.22.1. 

Please advise. Thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2016-10-04T03:10:48+00:00

I had this issue for many months and it was very frustrating--It was so frequent that I switched to Pages for a while. Since I have updated Word (running V 15.28 (160927)) for 2-3 weeks, I have not had 1 serious error. I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

I'm on a late 2013 MBA 11, running El Cap 10.11.6

I thought it might be helpful to read a post from someone who has had some good luck...

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Anonymous
2016-09-14T17:39:21+00:00

Hi everyone,

On 9/13/16, we released update 15.26 (160910), the September feature update for Office 2016 for Mac. Please install the update by clicking Help > Check for Updates > Check for Updates. Our engineering team has been intensively working on the ‘serious disk error’ issue and feel that this latest update will resolve it.

If you continue to experience problems, please reply to this thread with the following so that we can further isolate the cause:

  1. A screenshot of the About dialog (that shows the Office build number).
  2. A screenshot of the serious disk error dialog.
  3. The output of running ls ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/Temp from Terminal.
  4. The output of the command defaults read  com.microsoft.Word from Terminal if the issue happens in Word; or defaults read com.microsoft.Outlook if the issue happens in Outlook.

If you continue to experience the same ‘serious disk error’ issue that you did before installing the update, let us know and we will reach out to you in a private message to see if you’re willing to have an engineer speak to you directly to get it resolved.

If you experience any other file-related issues (other than the ‘serious disk error’), let us know that, too.

Again, we apologize for the frustration around this issue, and hope that this solves it.

Best,

-Erik, Office Newsroom

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-08-25T03:04:17+00:00
    1. Anyone would be insane to submit extensive log information from their computer to someone for whom they cannot confirm affiliation, identity or contact information. "Maxwell Joseph," can provide your Microsoft position and contact details??
    2. Until this equally insane problem gets resolved - if ever - I had to find a workaround. My solution is unlikely to be financially viable for many people but because I have academic credentials, I was able to purchase Parallels at a discount (which allows you to run Windows programs on a Mac) and I obtained Windows and Office (for PCs) for free via my institution. I can now run Word and Powerpoint via a virtual windows machine on my Mac (Macbook Air 2013). I have not had a single error. On the other hand, even with the newest Insider Fast update and after following Eric's instructions about using the terminal command, I continue to get errors using my Mac version of Word, often as soon as I try to open a file, much less work with it. I do plan to contact the magazine that another user mentioned so that they will conduct an investigation and publicize this problem.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-25T03:20:47+00:00

    Well I had one good day after trying the fix that was suggested a few days ago. I have a 2013 MBA as well, GC.

    While I have not gotten any more "serious error" pop ups recently, I have not been able to save my docs. When I try, it keeps cycling and repeating unless I change the name of the doc. So for each word doc I am writing, I have a dozen "versions" with different names. 

    Very aggravating, as I was happy with Word 2011--proof that I am far from an early adopter...

    I may just borrow my son'e PC until this blows over (assuming the PC version is better).

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-25T07:20:15+00:00

    Thanks for this.  So if you get Parallels for the mac then you can't open any of your existing word files until you also purchase another copy of office?  Or can you get parallels and simply open your docs?

    I have been using google docs but have also downloaded Open Office.  Is there an advantage to parallels over and above these?

    Agree this problem needs publicising.  MS could have and should have fixed this a long time ago.

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