"Cannot Create Work File" Error in Word (Q302629) using TSE on W2K

[Buzz Fenner]

Periodically, users running Word2000 via a W2K terminal server (and Citrix
Metaframe), will get hit with the errors detailed in the Knowledge Base
article Q302629 just after opening an existing document. I've worked
through methods 2 & 3 of fixing the problem to no avail. I haven't looked
at the data subkey fix (in method 1) cause I've not been successful in
finding the registry keys for the affected users. Has anyone beat their
head up against this problem before and can recommend any course of action?
I've already posted this to microsoft.public.word.application.errors.
Thanks

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

The location of the Data subkey for an individual user should be:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Data

But since this problem is affecting several users, you might have
to delete the shadow key in the Terminal Services section of the
HKLM part of the registry, i.e. in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\Install
\Software

Then rename normal.dot and then recreate the shadow key by
starting Word as administrator while you're in install mode.
Since you thereby update the timestamp on the shadow key, all
users will get a fresh copy of the shadow key into their HKCU part
of the registry, so you won't have to delete all individual \Data
subkeys.

Warning: I've never done this specific operation, make a full
backup before you do this!

For more information about the shadow area of the registry, see:

297379 - Programs Can Revert to the Default Settings on Terminal
Server
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297379

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

No garantuees here, because I have never done this before, but I think that
if you start Word in install mode and make some change on the Tools -
Options menu, the Data subkey will be created in the shadow area of the
registry. You probably never made any changes in the settings under the
Tool menu in Word (in install mode), so that's why the Data key wasn't
created to begin with).

After that, all users should get an updated Data key (since the timestamp
on the shadow area is newer than their own Data key).

If that doesn't work, you could delete all users Data subkey, but if you
have a lot of users, that'll be a pain.

Please repost here to tell us all if this works!

--
Vera Noest
MCSE,CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://hem.fyristorg.com/vera/IT
*----------- Please reply in newsgroup -------------*

 

[Buzz Fenner]

I just wanted to update my post(s). After manually deleting the data
subkeys for the users, and strangely enough seeing that the one user giving
me the worst problem didn't have one; I reconfigured Word, plus used the
support9.dot macro to bump up the TEMP variable value to the max (for my one
problem user). It's been running error free for the last month and hoping
it stays that way. Thanks Vera!

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

That's good to hear! Thanks for reporting back here, Buzz!

--
Vera Noest
MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://hem.fyristorg.com/vera/IT
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