I encountered an issue with Microsoft Word on Windows 11 this morning where I can't save .DOC files. The error message is: "You are trying to save a file type (Word 2007 and later Binary Document Templates) that is blocked by your Trust Center File Lock settings." We've identified that we need to modify some registry entries, so I created this command: Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:SoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftCloudOffice16.0wordsecurityfileblock" -Name "word2007files" -Value "0". However, I'm getting an error: 'The path cannot be found because it does not exist.' I've checked, and the route does exist. When I change the registry manually from 5 to 0, it gives an error. Does anyone have a solution for this? It fails for both .doc and .docx file types.
5 Answers
After running `gpresult /h report.html`, check the policies that apply to your computer. You might find that a Group Policy is blocking these changes. This is a common STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guide) to apply when securing Word, so it could be worth investigating.
Also, just a tip – if you're getting that error, it indicates the path might not exist. You can create it using this command: `$path = "HKCU:SoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftOffice16.0wordsecurityfileblock"; New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null; Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name "word2007files" -Value 0 -Type DWord`. This should help you avoid the 'not found' error.
Make sure you're running the command with the right account. If you're using a different user account without admin privileges, it could be causing the issue. Check that your account has the correct access rights.
First off, have you tried saving the documents as .docx or .docm? The .doc format is pretty outdated, so Word might be pushing back on that. Just a thought!
If your PCs are on a domain, consider using Group Policy to set those registry entries. It’s usually more reliable than scripts. Let me know if you want help finding the right settings!
It fails with both .doc and .docx, so that's not the issue.