Works Error: "Cannot Access File" (114468)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 3.0
  • Microsoft Works 3.0a
  • Microsoft Works 3.0b
  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works 4.5a
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q114468

SYMPTOMS

If you open a file from a floppy disk, then remove the disk and try to save the file to a different floppy disk in the same drive, or if you open two or more files from different floppy disks, the following message appears
Cannot access file: insert disk containing file: X:<filename>
where X is the floppy disk drive and <filename> is the name of the file you opened and tried to save.

If the error occurs when saving the file and you choose Cancel, then reselect the floppy drive, and try again to save the file, the following message appears:
A different disk is expected in drive X: Please insert the appropriate disk.
NOTE: If the error occurs after opening files from multiple disks and you choose Cancel, the active file may be closed without saving.

CAUSE

This will occur most frequently with disks that you format manually. When you format a disk, the computer writes a different serial number to each disk. Pre-formatted disks from the same box usually contain the same serial number and therefore may not experience this problem. Works is looking at this serial number before writing to the disk.

RESOLUTION

Place the original floppy disk in the drive and choose Retry. Then, close all open files.

-or-

NOTE: Use the following workaround only if the error occurred while saving.

Save the file on the hard drive using the following steps:

  1. Click Cancel, which will display the Save As dialog.
  2. In the Drives drop-down list, choose the hard drive.
  3. Click OK to save the file on the hard drive.
  4. Copy the file from the hard drive to the desired floppy disk.
To copy a Works file from one disk to another, follow these steps:

  1. Insert the floppy disk containing the original file into the floppy disk drive.
  2. Do one of the following:
    1. Use File Manager to copy the file to the hard disk.

      -or-

    2. Open the file in Works and save it to the hard disk.
  3. Remove the original floppy disk from the floppy disk drive and insert a new floppy disk.
  4. Do one of the following:
    1. Use File Manager to copy the file from the hard disk to the new floppy disk.
    2. Open the file in Works from the hard disk and save it to the new floppy disk in the floppy drive.
Using these methods, you can copy the file from one floppy disk to another in the same drive.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. In Works, open a file from a floppy disk.
  2. Remove the floppy disk and insert a different floppy disk into the same drive.
  3. From the File menu, click Save.

    Works tries unsuccessfully to save the file to the new disk, and generates one of the following error messages
    File name is not valid.

    -or-

    Cannot access file: insert disk containing file: X:<filename>
    where X is the floppy disk drive and <filename> is the name of the file you have opened and tried to save.
  4. You are given the option to either Retry or Cancel.

    If you choose Retry, the same message appears again. If you choose Cancel, the Save As dialog box appears. In the Save As dialog box, the Works drive and directory is selected instead of the floppy disk drive.
  5. Reselect the floppy disk drive. Works pauses for a moment, then generates the following error message:
    A different disk is expected in drive X: Please insert the appropriate disk.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/15/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB114468
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