Outlook (or) Word Could Not Create the Work File. Check the temp environment variable

[diben805]

I run Vista Business x64 on an Acer Machine. I am using MS Office 97
and have been on this computer for about a year with no major issues.

I get the following message when opening word: Word Could Not Creat
the Work File. Check the temp environment variable

And Outlook: Outlook Could Not Create the Work File. Check the tem
environment variable

I am then not able to save documents. When the save box comes up, onl
the cancel or no buttons will work. Word does start without the erro
message in safe mode. A new file CAN be saved from this, but when tha
file is opened, the error comes up anew.

Some forums have pointed to add ons. I have deleted all the ne
add-ons I have put on this machine and problem persists. A posting i
this forum seems to perhaps hold the answer. I connected a Wester
Digital external hard drive to this machine the day before it starte
malfunctioning. The folks at WD said that the particular drive I wa
using wouldn't be compatible with vista 64. Then I found this postin
(http://forums.techarena.in/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=4020359)
which indicates that it may be caused by the "Secure Browsing" functio
of WD Synch. Once I realized that the WD drive wouldn't work,
immediately uninstalled the correlating software.

I then looked at my registry key (as recommended in the aforementione
thread) and changed it to what was recommended by several users. I
seems as though what I need to do is reset the registry key to one o
the ones recommended by the users, or something new. So my question:
what should the registry key be changed to? Does it matter? Why can'
I just create a folder for temporary files? And is this truly the roo
cause of this problem??

Thanks for your help!

 

[diben805]

Problem solved! I just looked in some other directories within registr
editor and found it under USER shell folders!!

 

[Jwcush]

Hey guys. I am not a techie. I have been running Outlook 2007 under Windows
Home Edition for a couple of months and all of a sudden I started getting the
following when I open an email or try to reply to an email - Outloook could
not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable. I need some
specific instructions on how to correc this. Any help would sure be
appreciated.

 

[diben805]

Have you plugged in a Western Digital external hard drive recently b
any chance? Here's a good walk through
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=273556&messageID=261757

 

[FelixWass]

If you are working with a Western Digital external hard drive and secur
browsing, you can keep the software running - just make sure that th
external drive is connected when you start or work with any of th
Office applications

 

[Philly]

Following FelixWass idea, it works. But I have to always connect th
external disk to computer. Is there any solution without the externa
connection?

diben805: what's your solution? could you summarize that I can try?

Frustrated with Western Digit