File is locked for editing

[Joe]

When trying to access an Excel document over a network, i
receieve the message {FileName} is locked for editing by
{userName}, you can only read file. The user is not
accessing the file and has been completly logged off of
the domain. Can anyone help me get in to this file with
full control (I have administrative privlages across the
network)?

 

[Me]

Had this problem just about daily since we went to XP.
The main causes:
* When searching in windows explorer and you close th
window with the X without clicking stop.

* When you have a file open and someone does a search in
the directory and they don't close the search down
properly.

*When a windows update is run on the network it increases
the chances of it happening (basicaly it measn that I have
to call the IT department 3+ tmies a day to unlock files
instead of once a day.

The person who is says it is locked out to is not
necessarily the ID it is locked to on the network. They
are generally different and the conflict has occurred
between those two people.

I have been informed that Microsoft is already working on
a fix for this.

Occasionally the IT person will remove all locks but it
still says locked at your PC end. To completely remove
the lock in this instance you need to log off (not reboot).

An extremely annoying problem that I am hoping Microsoft
fix before I have pulled all my hair out!