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MS Word 2010 "Owner Files" Not Auto-Deleting from Network Share
Using MS Word 2010, when opening an existing document from a network drive, an "owner file" is created on the drive. This "owner file" is in the format ~$nnnnnnn.doc, is 1kb in size, and contains the UserID of the person who has the file open. Upon exiting the MS Word session, the owner file should auto-delete, but it does not. This tends to clog up the network share, and can lead to false indications of the file being open by someone else. As far as I can tell, this is unique to MS Office 2010 (we never had the problem before upgrading to Office 2010. How can this be corrected so that the "owner files" will automatically delete when exiting Word 2010?
Do the temp files clear when that user logs off the domain?
Try opening word with the /a switch
Try opening word with the /a switch
ASKER
It's an office-wide issue. The computers are in a domain, and the Word folder is on a network share.
The temp files don't clear when that user logs off the domain.
The temp files don't clear when that user logs off the domain.
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ASKER
Due to the fact that Apoc83's suggestion, although not the actual fix, got me on the right track, I'm awarding the points to Apoc83.
Here's the resolution:
The files that are not deleting are actually "Owner Files". Owner files are in the format ~$nnnnnn.doc, are only 1Kb in size, and contain the UserID of the person that has the file open. They are designed to prevent multiple users from trying to update the same file, tell MSOffice who has what open and why, etc.
Normally, Owner FIles are automatically deleted when you close MSWord (or Excel, etc.). However, something else comes into play with MSOffice 2010's enhanced security features and accessing files that it thinks may be unsafe. Due to the way that we authenticate to a legacy domain for access to a file server, MSOffice thinks that files on the network drive came from the Internet, and then opens them in an enhanced security mode known as "Protected View". That's the view with the yellow bar at the top of the Word window which tells you that the file is potentially unsafe. You have the option of clicking on Enable Editing, which then lets you work on the file. If you do that, however, the Owner File won't be deleted from the source directory, which MSOffice thinks is probably from the Internet. It's a "feeture" of Office 2010; had the file actually been from the Internet, it would have downloaded to the temporary directory and left behind the Owner file for future system reference.
So, the fix is to change MSWord options (File -> Options -> Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings -> Protected View options). De-select "Enable Protected View for Files Originating from the Internet". This will prevent the enhanced Protected View security feature from coming into play when opening files from the legacy network, and the files will automatically delete when you leave your Word session. The downside, of course, is that you no longer have the safety net of Protected View on files actually coming from the Internet.
Probably have to do the same for MSExcel.
Here's the resolution:
The files that are not deleting are actually "Owner Files". Owner files are in the format ~$nnnnnn.doc, are only 1Kb in size, and contain the UserID of the person that has the file open. They are designed to prevent multiple users from trying to update the same file, tell MSOffice who has what open and why, etc.
Normally, Owner FIles are automatically deleted when you close MSWord (or Excel, etc.). However, something else comes into play with MSOffice 2010's enhanced security features and accessing files that it thinks may be unsafe. Due to the way that we authenticate to a legacy domain for access to a file server, MSOffice thinks that files on the network drive came from the Internet, and then opens them in an enhanced security mode known as "Protected View". That's the view with the yellow bar at the top of the Word window which tells you that the file is potentially unsafe. You have the option of clicking on Enable Editing, which then lets you work on the file. If you do that, however, the Owner File won't be deleted from the source directory, which MSOffice thinks is probably from the Internet. It's a "feeture" of Office 2010; had the file actually been from the Internet, it would have downloaded to the temporary directory and left behind the Owner file for future system reference.
So, the fix is to change MSWord options (File -> Options -> Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings -> Protected View options). De-select "Enable Protected View for Files Originating from the Internet". This will prevent the enhanced Protected View security feature from coming into play when opening files from the legacy network, and the files will automatically delete when you leave your Word session. The downside, of course, is that you no longer have the safety net of Protected View on files actually coming from the Internet.
Probably have to do the same for MSExcel.
ASKER
Good diagnostic questions/issues, which led me to the actual facts!
Can you login as administrator and see if the problem replicates or not?