Word XP having problems with Document recovery, HELP!

[gtstangman35]

I am having a weird issue everytime a user launches word xp on this one perticular computer. First it starts with Document2 instead of Document1 and it brings up the Autorecovery pane on the left with Document1 as one of the recovered documents. But the weird thing is when I try to either recover it or save it or delete it, it states the word cannot find the document and then it gives an error saying cannot read from source file or disk. I have tried everything but I cannot get this to stop happening, and it is the same for all users. Any ideas? Please help!

 

[fumei]

Could you give a bit more information? You state it is one particular computer - yet you also state it is happening to all users. Just to clarify, you have multiple users of this computer?

Also, if possible, check the path of the "recovered" document. If it is under Document and Settings, and showing in a folder with a name starting with OLK, that could be your problem.

Gerry

 

[gtstangman35]

Thanks for the reply Gerry! Actually, this box is on a domain but multiple people log into it. I have looked in the path where Word states auto recovered files go and there is nothing. I have searched the whole computer for any temp files and deleted them. The weird thing is this, the recovered files it says are found are named document1 and document2 and when you try to do anything with them it says 'word cannot open this document (document1)' and then they go away. Then you open word again and the auto recovery pane comes back with the same 2 documents. This is the same for ANY user and they are the same 2 files for every user with the same creation date on them as well.

Your suggestion about OLK folder is not the case. It is pointing to the correct spot in their profile, but as stated earlier, there is nothing in this folder.

Any other thoughts.

-Wes

 

[fumei]

OK. how about changing the file location of where recovery files are? Try changing it to a new folder.

When you same the same two files, what are the files? Are they recognizable, and do they have any other name beside Document1? Are they blank, or is there content visible?

Technically, any recovered files are named: "AutoRecover Save of file name" and in the folder indicated in File Locations. So try deleting normal.dot, restart Word, and redirect autorecovery.

The fact the machine has multiple users means that each user will have a different recovery location. The recovery location by default is Doc & Setting, blah blah\user name\ App data\Microsoft\Word. Is it possible that there is some improper logout between users? Word could be looking for "recovered" files for the wrong user.

Gerry

 

[gtstangman35]

Hi Again!

The files, as far as I can tell just say Document1, and whatever I try to do to them (open, save, delete) from the Recovery pane, it just gives me the same error (cannot open the document (document1)) and then gives another error 'cannot delete the file, cannot read from source file or disk'. It is like it is looking for a file that is no longer there. How can I find out what exact file it is looking for?

I have tried deleting the normal.dot and nothing. Still does the same thing. The weird thing is is that is the same thing for ALL users.

 

[fumei]

Hmmm. It has to do with normal.dot and the pointer to the recovery folder. I can't see that it could be anything else. Remember there could very well be (depending on how you have your network set up) a normal.dot for each user. Again it would be under their username in the Doc and Settings\username\app data\microsoft\templates folder. Oh, except I forgot to ask what OS, but as you say it is on a domain it will likely be the above.

If you have admin access, try deleting ALL of them.

Gerry

 

[gtstangman35]

Thanks. Yes, this is on Windows 2000 server, with about 15 users that log onto it on a regular basis. There is a normal.dot for each user, but I am not quite sure if it was the normal.dot why each auto rocver would be the same. Every user is getting the SAME files popping up in the recovery pane when they open word. I will try your advice about the normal.dot by deleting all of them and then recreating them. It really seems like the fiel is no longer there and the recovery thinks it is. I thought maybe it was a registry entry or something, but deleting each of them couldn't hurt.

 

[Brianj15042]

Did you ever get resolution on this matter? I am having the same problem with Word 2003 in terminal services.

 

[netadmin19355]

I never did get this resolved...I had to rebuild! Oh well...I guess thats why we all have jobs!

-Wes

 

[fumei]

Since this has popped up again...when you did a rebuild, did it "fix" it?

Oh, and was the ghost document one that was opened from an email????

Gerry