Combining Multiple MS Word Files - Error Message Upon Save As

[ms300game]

I am using MS Word 2007 with XP. The first file is 293 pages long (12, 528
KB) saved as a .docm. The second file is 273 pages long (6, 658 KB) saved as
a .docm. When I add them, they come out to roughly 19MB which is below the
guesstimated MAX OF 32MB for MS Word.

I open the first file and add the second file to it by inserting, object and
text from file. The two files come together nicely, I update my TOC, figures
and, tables fields.

I select "Save As" which in turn creates the problem. The PROBLEM is the
error message that prevents me from saving these two files as one. MICROSOFT
OFFICE WORD box states "A file error has occured (file name)"

My customer requires that I deliver a "combined" MS Word file along with a
..pdf with interactive (linked) TOC, list of figures and tables.

IF I absolutely can not combine these files, how do I update the fields in
the TOC with the information from the second file?

 

[ms300game]

The data that is located in the second file will be used to create a master
TOC at the front of the publication. Each section does not require its own
TOC.

Is there a way to locate the "errors" that is preventing MS Word from saving
and troubleshooting them?

I'm working off a template that I was provided by the customer, and she
stated that she has never had any problems with MS Word saving when she
joined multiple files.

Although a long shot, I've even saved my working files to my desktop and
attempted the same steps as previously mentioned yet to no avail.

Thanks for any further assistance...