File lock problem (repost)

[Eugene Tan]

hi,

The original post was not addressed so I'm reposting with some
modifications. If this is the wrong NG, kindly let me know which
to post to.

The problem is that some Office files (.doc .xls) are locked such
that they can't even be copied. Not all of the files, but some files
and there is no particular pattern. In effect, these files are locked
out and can't be accessed, backedup, scanned etc.

Doing CHKDSK during reboot solved it for some files (these can
now be copied or opened) but not for many others. Further
CHKDSK and reboots have no effect.

The PC concerned is on a very small network with WinXP Home.
The C drive was shared out initially but this has since been changed.

Any idea what could be going on?

NortonAV 2004 is installed, WinFirewall is enabled, WinXP sp2
installed. Office2000 without patches is installed - could this be the
cause of the problem?

Any idea what is going on?

TIA,
Eugene Tan

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

hi,

The original post was not addressed so I'm reposting with some
modifications. If this is the wrong NG, kindly let me know which
to post to.

The problem is that some Office files (.doc .xls) are locked such
that they can't even be copied. Not all of the files, but some files
and there is no particular pattern. In effect, these files are locked
out and can't be accessed, backedup, scanned etc.

Doing CHKDSK during reboot solved it for some files (these can
now be copied or opened) but not for many others. Further
CHKDSK and reboots have no effect.

The PC concerned is on a very small network with WinXP Home.
The C drive was shared out initially but this has since been changed.

Any idea what could be going on?

NortonAV 2004 is installed, WinFirewall is enabled, WinXP sp2
installed. Office2000 without patches is installed - could this be the
cause of the problem?

Any idea what is going on?

TIA,
Eugene Tan

You did not write what message you see when you try to open or
copy one of these files. I would try to copy one from a Command
Prompt, then make a note of the message (verbatim!).

I would also use oh.exe to find out what process is locking the
files. It might even be an NTFS restriction! OH.exe (open handle)
comes with the Windows 2000 Resource Kit (and perhaps with
the WinXP RK too).

 

[Eugene Tan]

hi,

Sorry, I am not at the PC, but from memory, when one tries to
double-click open a .doc file, the error is a sharing violation or
file in use error.

When I try to drag copy via WinExplorer, the error message is
file locked or something like that. I'll try the Command prompt
as well, thanks.

I'll try OH.exe, but aren't all the handles released on reboot?
Upon login after reboot, the problem recurs with the same set
of files. Even when there are no programs running. TaskMgr
doesn't show up anything suspicious, nor does Run in registry.

TIA,
Eugene Tan

==================

 

[Sharon F]

hi,

The original post was not addressed so I'm reposting with some
modifications. If this is the wrong NG, kindly let me know which
to post to.

The problem is that some Office files (.doc .xls) are locked such
that they can't even be copied. Not all of the files, but some files
and there is no particular pattern. In effect, these files are locked
out and can't be accessed, backedup, scanned etc.

Doing CHKDSK during reboot solved it for some files (these can
now be copied or opened) but not for many others. Further
CHKDSK and reboots have no effect.

The PC concerned is on a very small network with WinXP Home.
The C drive was shared out initially but this has since been changed.

Any idea what could be going on?

NortonAV 2004 is installed, WinFirewall is enabled, WinXP sp2
installed. Office2000 without patches is installed - could this be the
cause of the problem?

Any idea what is going on?

TIA,
Eugene Tan

May want to post this question in one of the Office newsgroups. I seem to
remember a similar issue after a particular XP update. I think it has since
been fixed but don't know the details like the Office folks would.

Newsgroups for Office products can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?d=1

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Handles should be released when you close the application,
e.g. Word. In your case this does not seem to be the case.
OH will tell you what's keeping the handle open.

 

[Eugene Tan]

Will try there, thanks for the suggestion.

Cheers,
Eugene Tan
=================