WD95: Word Cannot "Save As" Due To A File Permission Error

ID: Q178360

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Save As command to save a file to an NT file system (NTFS) partition on your computer, and when the original file exists on a server NTFS partition, you receive the following error message:

   Word cannot complete the save due to a file permission error

This error message will occur under Windows NT 4.0 when the following conditions are true:

The file on the server share has Change permissions granted to a local group,
-and-
You logged onto the client machine as a member of this local group,
-and-
You are not a member of a group with greater permissions to the file.

Also note that a temporary file will be left on the destination path of the attempted save, and this file will have permissions duplicating those of the original file.

CAUSE

When performing the Save As operation, Word first copies the permissions from the server file to a newly created temporary file. It then attempts to rename the temporary file. The rename fails, because the access rights from the original file do not resolve to the logged on user on the client machine. This occurs because local groups only have meaning on the machine where they are defined. The only exceptions to this are local groups defined on a primary domain controller, which are replicated to all backup domain controllers in the domain.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, upgrade to Word 97 for Windows.

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Copy the file from the server to the local machine before opening it in Word.
-or-
From Word, use a FAT partition for the destination path for the file when you use the Save As command.
-or-
Grant Change permissions on the file to a Global group, and add the appropriate users to the same group.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0. This Problem was corrected in Word 97 for Windows.

Additional query words: offwin word95 office95 kbbuglist

Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : ALPHA MIPS x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: February 11, 1999