E138: Can't write viminfo file .viminfo!

It is almost 2 months, i was facing this error, with my Linux box. Couldn't really recognize the problem. Deleted the .viminfo file then deleted .viminfo! file as well, but all attempts in vain.

Some message if u see again and again, it is real frustrating.

Finally, today i decided to get rid of this message once and for all. As usual, searched on google.

Following was the solution::

*viminfo-errors*
When Vim detects an error while reading a viminfo file, it will not overwrite
that file. If there are more than 10 errors, Vim stops reading the viminfo
file. This was done to avoid accidentally destroying a file when the file
name of the viminfo file is wrong. This could happen when accidentally typing
"vim -i file" when you wanted "vim -R file" (yes, somebody accidentally did
that!). If you want to overwrite a viminfo file with an error in it, you will
either have to fix the error, or delete the file (while Vim is running, so
most of the information will be restored).


*:rv* *:rviminfo* *E195*
:rv[iminfo][!] [file] Read from viminfo file [file] (default: see above).
If [!] is given, then any information that is
already set (registers, marks, etc.) will be
overwritten. {not in Vi}


*:wv* *:wviminfo* *E137* *E138* *E574*
:wv[iminfo][!] [file] Write to viminfo file [file] (default: see above).
The information in the file is first read in to make
a merge between old and new info. When [!] is used,
the old information is not read first, only the
internal info is written. If 'viminfo' is empty, marks
for up to 100 files will be written.
When you get error "E138: Can't write viminfo file"
check that no old temp files were left behind (e.g.
~/.viminf*) and that you can write in the directory of
the .viminfo file.
{not in Vi}