Excel Can’t Save Files to a Network Drive (Windows XP, KB983458 Fix)
I set up a new Windows Server 2012 machine, and some users on Windows XP started having trouble saving Excel files (.xls and .xlsx) to it.
It turns out this is an old problem that many people have run into. I vaguely remember it from years ago, but it was never this obvious. Here saving only worked after about five attempts.
Advice on the web varies.
People suggest disabling or even uninstalling the antivirus, tweaking the network card settings, lowering the network speed, digging through server logs, or replacing the network card or cable.
I found a fix for “Windows XP can’t save Excel file to network share”, and it really works!
The problematic setup: client PCs with Windows XP SP3 and Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010.
Microsoft describes the problem here: KB983458.
Typical symptoms:
- When you save a document to a remote server from a Microsoft Office program, you get a “Document not saved” error.
- You can’t save files to a remote server with a built-in backup program such as NTBackup on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.
- The Security tab is missing in the properties of a folder on a remote server, so you can’t view or change its permissions.
Installing the update WindowsXP-KB983458-x86-RUS.exe fixes all of these problems. Microsoft used to send it on request from its support site.
I never understood why it was so complicated: you had to pick your system, enter your email, and a download link for hotfix KB983458 arrived by mail.
First you download 412880_RUS_i386_zip.exe. When you run it, it unpacks into WindowsXP-KB983458-x86-RUS.exe, which is the update you need.
Download: WindowsXP-KB983458-x86-RUS.exe (Windows XP, 32-bit, Russian version).
Install KB983458 and restart the PC. After that, documents should save to network drives normally.
