While using MS Word 2001 in the Classic mode (9.2.2) under OS X 10.2, Word erased a file based on a network server.
I had opened a Word file across the network, did some minor editing, and attempted to Save (Command + S) (to the same network server). Word responded with a message "Word cannot complete the operation because too many files are open." Word erased the original document, but did not finish the Save. The file was lost. This one file was the only file open, and little else running.
I reproduced this a couple of times (with duplicates of other files), with the same destructive finale. I had no problem saving/resaving to a local disk, however, across the network seems to be something that offers the system a challenge. I have not tested Excel nor PowerPoint under the same circumstances.
[Editor's note: I don't have Word 2001 to test this with, so I'd appreciate any corroboration that the macosxhints readers might be able to provide. If this happens regularly, it's obviously a very bad bug on someone's part.]
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2002092107561162