UPDATE:
I finally did get the documents to be copy/pasteable again. I did NOT do the Scandisk/Defrag.
After trying to store onto another HD and failing after that too, I tried copying the stuff
wanted then closing that document, replying that I wanted to keep the copied text. Then I
restarted Word and 'started' the other document. This time the Paste worked!!!

Thanks Gregory, but those items don't seem to be the problem.
I'm getting this now on a 11 page document.

I'm going to try another suggestion in your list - ScanDisk/Defrag.



>>** PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THIS THREAD **
>>
>>I have a document of only 91 pages and it has been heavily edited. However, I have edited bigger documents more.
>>
>>On this document I consistently get "There are too many edits on the document. The operation will not be complketed. Save your work." when I try to copy/paste within the document.
>>
>>How do I get around this?... I have tried saving to another document, changing Save options to 'fast save' and checked to ensure that change tracking is NOT in effect.
>>
>>Thanks
>>** PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THIS THREAD **
>
>Jim,
>
>a couple of things to try
>
>(1) turn fast save off
>(2) Delete as many files as you can from your temp folder (Windows\temp or so) see http://search.microsoft.com/default.asp?so=RECCNT&siteid=us&p=1&nq=NEW&qu=There+are+too+many+edits+on+the+document&IntlSearch=&boolean=ALL&ig=1&ig=3&ig=5&ig=7&ig=9&ig=2&ig=4&ig=6&ig=8&ig=10&i=00&i=02&i=04&i=06&i=08&i=01&i=03&i=05&i=07&i=09 point # 4 or http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b108249