Cannot save as a .doc in Word 2013/2016 "The save failed due to out of memory or disk space"

Question

_{Thursday, November 26, 2015 4:43 PM}

I am having a problem where I cannot save a document as a .doc when using Word 2013/2016. I can open Word, select blank document, type a sentence and click File, Save As, select .doc and when I try to save the error "The save failed due to out of memory or disk space" is displayed.

I have plenty of storage space but have tried saving to a secondary HDD, external USB and NAS all with the same error.

I read about enabling the developer tab, visual basic, references but none are listed as 'MISSING' so that didn't help. 

I tried a full online repair, I also removed Office 2013 and installed 2016 from Office 365 and still had the same problem.

Any help much appreciated :)

All replies (10)

_{Tuesday, December 1, 2015 10:41 AM ✅Answered | 3 votes}

We discovered that on another PC after installing 'Rapport' (IBM security trusteer endpoint protection) for our online banking the same issue arose, removing Rapport fixed it. Hope this helps some others too.

_{Friday, November 27, 2015 1:34 AM}

Hi,

Please try the following methods and check if they are helpful:

1) Save as Docx format

2) Go to File=>Options=>Trust center=>File Block Settings=> Check the Word 2003 format if it is disabled.

Similar issue:

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/d49f4768-cf9d-422c-8bad-98599697ab8a/the-save-failed-due-to-out-of-memory-or-disk-space?forum=worddev

I hope the above information helps. Reply with the result and I'll be glad to further assist you.

Regards,

George Zhao
TechNet Community Support

Please mark the reply as an answer if you find it is helpful.

If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].

_{Friday, November 27, 2015 10:27 AM}

Hi George, I forgot to mention I had already checked the trust center settings and they were disabled for 2003.

.docx saves with no issues at all but we have a particular need to save as a .doc in this case.

Thanks

_{Sunday, November 29, 2015 5:19 PM}

I am having the same problems as the person below.  I also get the message "The save failed due to out of memory or disk space."  I know from previous experience that this is a spurious message and the problem has nothing to do with memory or disk space.

I am using Office 2013 and Windows 8.1 running on a Lenovo PC with 16 GB RAM and 860 GB of free disk space.

This problem only started on Thurs 26 November 2015 - the same day as reported by the person below - an MS update gone wrong?

I cannot save to a folder any Word .docx or .doc files that arrive as attachments.  I can only save the files in "Read only" format.

I have checked the Trust Centre Settings in both Outlook and Word and changed the Protected View settings in Word.  I have checked the File Block settings. 

I can copy an attachment to the Desktop and rename it but cannot then save the renamed file in a folder.

I can save the files as "Read Only" and then Unblock them in the Properties box but I still cannot save the unblocked files under a different name.

I have converted any .doc files displayed in "Compatability Mode" but still cannot save them under a different name.  When I try this I get the error message: "Disk is full or too many files are open".

I can save .doc files as .docx files but cannot then open them. I get the error message "the file format does not match the extension".

I have uninstalled and re-installed Office 2013 and repeated all the tasks above to no avail.

Has anyone any suggestions - other than moving to Open Office?

"I am having a problem where I cannot save a document as a .doc when using Word 2013/2016. I can open Word, select blank document, type a sentence and click File, Save As, select .doc and when I try to save the error "The save failed due to out of memory or disk space" is displayed.

I have plenty of storage space but have tried saving to a secondary HDD, external USB and NAS all with the same error.

I read about enabling the developer tab, visual basic, references but none are listed as 'MISSING' so that didn't help. 

I tried a full online repair, I also removed Office 2013 and installed 2016 from Office 365 and still had the same problem.

Any help much appreciated :)"

_{Tuesday, December 1, 2015 8:17 PM}

Hi RandomDisplay,

Thanks for this answer - it works!

I had similar problems and have spent hours trying to sort them out.

Much appreciated.

Declan Kelly

_{Wednesday, October 12, 2016 8:25 AM}

This was the answer I've been looking for all the day! Thank you so much! It was like drinking cold water in the dessert. I would like to have the words to say how much I apreciate this but my english level wont let me so, thank you again. God bless you :) 

_{Friday, September 22, 2017 2:29 AM}

Worked like a charm, thank you.

_{Saturday, March 24, 2018 5:04 AM}

WORKED TRYING OPTION 1. THANKS!

_{Thursday, May 9, 2019 8:13 PM}

Office 2013 and up to 365 will not save old document  created by 2003 office with an extension .DOC Due to incompatibility.  

 Go to save as and change .DOC extension to .DOCX from drop down list.

Not sure why office gives the error for this as out of memory lol

_{Monday, November 25, 2019 7:29 PM}

Kishore Babu Diyyana - I had same problem, delete any diagrams (which not supported by your installed office just for time being) and save it. Later you may draw diagram if required. Hope this interim solution helps.

OR you can use online office365 -> free-office-online-for-the-web