KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q156047: "A Temporary File…" Error Occurs Opening Attachment

Article: Q156047
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): WINDOWS:4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv
Last Modified: 23-FEB-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Windows 3.x client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Exchange Windows 95/98 client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

You may receive the following error message when opening an attachment in a
e-mail message:

  A temporary file needed for this action could not be created.

CAUSE
=====

This error may occur if the Temp directory specified by the SET TEMP= statement
does not exist on the hard disk drive or is set to an incorrect directory.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, perform the following steps for Win9.x clients:

1. Verify that the Autoexec.bat file contains the following line: SET
  TEMP=<tempdir> where <tempdir> is the name of a valid directory
  on your hard disk drive.

2. Verify that the <tempdir> directory specified in Step 1 exists. If it
  does not exist, create the directory.

3. Make sure there is enough disk space available on the hard disk to store the
  attachment.

To work around this problem for Windows NT clients, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then
  double-click System.

2. Click the Environment tab.

3. Check the Temp Variable in the User Variables section. If that directory does
  not exist, create the directory.

4. Make sure there is enough disk space available on the hard disk to store the
  attachment.

MORE INFORMATION
================

When you open an attachment in Exchange Server, the file is stored in the
directory specified by the SET TEMP= statement. If this directory does not
exist, or there is not enough available disk space on the hard drive, Exchange
Server may have problems opening the attachment.


Additional query words: double click file icon

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbExchangeClientSearch kbZNotKeyword kbZNotKeyword2 kbZNotKeyword3 kbExchange400NT kbExchange500NT kbExchange400Win95 kbExchange500Win95
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.