"doc, is being used."

[Will T.]

When I open a document in word 97 I get the
message, "...doc. is being used by (my name). Do you want
to make a copy." This is embarrassing because I had this
problem a few weeks ago and someone in the newsgroup gave
me some suggestions that solved the problem. Since then I
had some catastrophic computer problems which required
that I reinstall xp. I lost all my files and my email so
I can't find the suggestions which I saved. I can't for
the life of me remember what solved the problem! I do
know that the solution did not involve .tmp files and a
windows crash was not the cause. Anyway, when I
reinstalled the OS and doc. files and everything else the
problem was back. I tried everything I could think of but
if you beat me with a stick I wouldn't be able to recall
what fixed it last time. I'll try any suggestion.
Thanks

 

[Graham Mayor]

See http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/LockedFiles.htm,
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm

and to reduce the trauma of such major problems in future, bear in mind
http://www.gmayor.com/Norton_Ghost.htm

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Will T.]

-----Original Message-----
See http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/LockedFiles.htm,
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm

and to reduce the trauma of such major problems in future, bear in mind
http://www.gmayor.com/Norton_Ghost.htm

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>





.
I can't find any .tmp word files. I don't think the

problem is that complicated. I think it's something in
the way I copied my doc. files back onto the C drive
after I reinstalled (used a flash mem. stick). When I go
into windows explorer I see that I have a folder
called "My Documents" and one called "Bill's (me)
documents." Both folders contain the same doc.s (more or
less). I think windows recognizes one of them as open. I
can't delete "Bill's doc.s." They are part of the
original setup with xp file sharing. I don't share any
files and I'm not on any network but xp does not allow
one to eliminate the file sharing options as far as I can
see. For me, this xp feature is just annoying and
confusing. I've been to word/FAQs a number of times and
tried all kinds of things but haven't solved the problem.
I admit that I don't understand files and folders very
well. I think its a matter of deleting or dragging one
folder to another. I'll try anything! Thanks

 

[Graham Mayor]

problem is that complicated. I think it's something in
the way I copied my doc. files back onto the C drive
after I reinstalled (used a flash mem. stick). When I go
into windows explorer I see that I have a folder
called "My Documents" and one called "Bill's (me)
documents." Both folders contain the same doc.s (more or
less). I think windows recognizes one of them as open. I
can't delete "Bill's doc.s." They are part of the
original setup with xp file sharing. I don't share any
files and I'm not on any network but xp does not allow
one to eliminate the file sharing options as far as I can
see. For me, this xp feature is just annoying and
confusing. I've been to word/FAQs a number of times and
tried all kinds of things but haven't solved the problem.
I admit that I don't understand files and folders very
well. I think its a matter of deleting or dragging one
folder to another. I'll try anything! Thanks

Aha! The rest of the story

If you have copied the files from memory stick, it is entirely possible that
the read only attribute has been set. And if you are *opening* the files
from the memory stick, then the probability is that you will corrupt those
documents. Copy the files to the hard drive, right click them in explorer
and have a look if the read only attribute is set. If it is ......

The My Documents dilemma is simply a reflection that XP is multi-user. These
are the *same* files - not two different sets. It is merely a different view
of them.

If Word thinks the document is open, then it is because you have orphaned
temporary files. By default Explorer hides these, but if you checkout the
links - especially the one on my web site - instructions on how to show them
are available. You can't delete them if you can't see them!

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>