Background: MS Outlook uses a local cache to work with e-mail attachments. Every time an attachment is opened from an email, Outlook creates a copy of the attachment in the local cache.

This is not usually a problem as attachments are typically saved if they need to be referenced frequently. The problem occurs when attachments with the same file name are received frequently. It can also be an issue when continually working with the attachment in the original email message. When Outlook encounters an already existing file name in its local attachment cache, Outlook will create the new copy of the attachment with an incrementing number.

Outlook’s programing will only increment the number to 99. Once this happens the Outlook will not be able to create a local copy of the attachment, and it will return the following error, “Cannot creat file: . Right-click the folder you want to create the file in, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu to check your permissions for the folder.”

Solution: Navigate to the following location: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\.

The folder Content.Outlook is hidden from Windows Explorer, therefore it will need to be typed in to the address bar.

Delete the file named in the error from the sub-folders, or – using discrection – delete the sub-folders. Outlook will create a new sub-folder the next time an attachment is used.

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