copy problems

[jpay...@direct.ca]

I have an Excel 97 worksheet -- containing several macros -- that is
approx 460,000 bytes.

My problem is that when I attempt to copy it to "A" drive (1.4) and then
take the disk to another computer to load it, I get an error message
that indicates that the file is "Read Only" or can not read from the
server and therefore will not load. I used to be able to do this with
no trouble ... this is a recent development.

Have I got a switch incorrectly set on the source computer?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Chip Pearson]

You should never open a file directly off of a floppy disk, for several
reasons. First of all, floppy disks are very slow compared to hard drives.
Second, they are not a reliable (easier to corrupt). Third, when Excel
opens a file, it actually makes a copy of that file, and works with that,
only overwriting the original when you do a Save. That's how it is able do
give you the "Do You Want To Save?" message. It doesn't "undo"
everything -- it just deletes the temp file without overwriting the
original. But because it does this, you'll need at least as much free space
on the drive as the original file, so there is room for the temp file.

Always copy files off a floppy on the hard drive before opening them.

--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com ch...@cpearson.com

<jpay...@direct.ca> wrote in message news:396F6B86...@direct.ca...

[John Walkenbach]

> Third, when Excel
> opens a file, it actually makes a copy of that file, and works with that,
> only overwriting the original when you do a Save.

Are you sure about that Chip? MS Word does it like that, but I don't think
Excel uses a temporary copy of the workbook file.

----- Posted by John Walkenbach (MVP) -----
----- Visit The Spreadsheet Page -----
----- http://www.j-walk.com/ss -----

[Chip Pearson]

"John Walkenbach" <jo...@j-walk.com> wrote

> Are you sure about that Chip?

Well, I thought I was. But I'm certainly not, now!

My source for the info was "the posts in these newsgroups" and, perhaps more
officially, KB Q214245,

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q214/2/45.ASP ,

which states (for XL2000):
--------------------------
When you work in a file, Microsoft Excel saves the file with a temporary
file name (.tmp file extension) and places this file in the same directory
as the original file. When you save the file, the original file is then
deleted and the temporary file is renamed with the original file name.
Therefore, the amount of free disk space on the drive must be greater than
twice the file size being saved. If it is not, then you will receive the
message "Disk is Full."
--------------------------

--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com ch...@cpearson.com

"John Walkenbach" <jo...@j-walk.com> wrote in message
news:#MSsSed7$GA.245@cppssbbsa05...

[jpay...@direct.ca]

But the message I get is "can not open as file is read only or the server is not
logged on" or words to that effect. I am copying it on to a 1.4 floppy and it
is the only file on te disk. The file length is 460,000 bytes.

Is there anything else I can try?????

Thanks in advance

[bill]

thorough scandisk the floppy??

<jpay...@direct.ca> wrote in message news:396F95CE...@direct.ca...