Excel 2007 locked for editing Solved

Question

Hello everyone,

I’m going to present my problem for which I found no solution on Google. I spent the whole afternoon on it. It’s very simple, I’m convinced, but I don’t have the solution. Maybe you’ll be able to help me.

Here’s the problem.
File server under Samba
Windows 7 Enterprise workstation with Office 2007.

Randomly, when I open an Excel document (XLSX format) on the network, I get an error message saying: “The file xxxxx.xlsx is locked for editing by another user.”

The "another user" is exactly what is written.
At the moment I get the error, the document isn’t open by anyone else. The file is “free.”
Excel isn’t running in the background.
On the server, I don’t see that the document is open. So the document is indeed “free.”
In the folder, I don’t have a lock file (you know, the hidden file that gets added and is named ~xxxxx).

When I close my document, and open it again, I don’t have the problem.
It’s random, and this problem doesn’t occur for everyone, but for a handful of users.

At the moment I get the error, another user can open the document normally. So the file is really free for use.

All stations are identical and configured the same way.
Users have write rights to the directory. I repeat, the problem is random.

I’ve searched the net, I’ve found tips that didn’t work, like:
- Run /regserver on Excel
- Disable preview before opening the document

The problem only occurs with Excel 2007 and only on Windows 7.
It’s not always the same document; sometimes it’s another.
When I close the error message and reopen my document, everything is fine (so not a rights issue).

It’s as if Excel makes a local copy of the document (since someone else can access the document), and a system process opens the document before me.

Anyway, any idea to resolve this nuisance? It’s not blocking, but very unpleasant in daily use (since the problem occurs about once in 5 documents opened: roughly).

To summarize.
My file is OK.
I open it: “Your file is locked for editing by another user.”
I close it.
I reopen it.
It opens correctly.

I open 3–4 documents without problem...
Open another: error message.
I close and reopen: OK.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kazou · Accepted Answer

It's resolved.

For my part, it was due to Windows 7.

The Preview Pane (Preview before opening the document) and the Details Pane (document properties in a bottom pane of the window) were enabled.

Since I disabled them, no more problems.

Note: This Excel error can come from several places!!! I fixed my problem like that, but it's possible that it won't always solve the issue. If this tip doesn't work, look into antivirus, Excel not closing, or search the internet ;)

Last tip: We always look for information in French, but English, German, and Spanish forums are also very well supplied. Just run a translator to access other sources of information.

Kazou · Answer

Hi,

This message might not be seen, or you might not have a solution.

I’m taking the liberty to give a little bump :)

Thank you
Kazou

Le Pingou · Answer

Hello, To hear from you, this is certainly at the Samba server level; please check with the administrator of that server.  -- Best regards. Le Pingou

Kazou · Answer

Thank you for the advice, but do you have a more precise idea of where the problem could come from with Samba?

It's been discussed with the server administrator.
At the moment I encounter the error (when the popup for a locked file appears), there is no trace of the document being used on the Samba server.
And conversely, when the document opens correctly, there is a clear trace of the document being used (+ a lock file named "~<nomdufichier>" in the directory where the document is located).

Another point: Only a handful of users encounter this issue.
Besides, all files are under Samba. I therefore doubt that the problem comes from there.

Thank you</nomdufichier>

Le Pingou · Answer

Hello, Another possibility, check that there is no proprietary file left in the folder where the Excel file is located.  -- Best regards. Le Pingou

Kazou · Answer

When the problem occurs, there is no owner file (the hidden file that starts with ~&....).
Moreover, simply opening the document with the error, closing it, and reopening it makes the document open correctly (this time the owner file appears).
During the error, the document is not used by anyone.

Another test I did.
I made sure no one opens document X.
I was therefore the only user.
I opened and closed document X 10 times. At each closing of the document, I checked the running processes. Excel closes properly.
And during these 10 times, I got the error at least once.

So:
Document unused, free from any user.
Document unused by a process.
Document is not read-only
I have full rights to the directory and to the document.
The problem is random.

And this problem does not occur at all on a PC with XP and Office 2003.

This problem does not occur either on another PC with Windows 7 and Office 2007.

I thought about network latency. The connection is perfectly configured, the document is only 20 KB and the ping between the workstation and the file server (and vice versa) is less than 10 ms.

Another lead: Pingou? Or the others ...

thank you

Kazou · Answer

Thank you Le Pingou

The others... A solution? An idea? A thought? :)

Thanks in advance.

Kazou · Answer

Hi there,  1 day without a reply. I’m taking the liberty to do a quick nudge :)  Thanks

gbinforme · Answer

Hello

Given that the server apparently has no problems with the other workstations, this should indicate that your machine is not configured exactly like the others.

Are you sure there isn’t a missing Windows 7 update or Office 2007 update on your machine?

Try checking with the other "identical" workstation that has no issues in the Control Panel.

--

Always zen

Kazou · Answer

Updates also work via a server, and all PCs are updated in the same way.  I found a lead. I’ll tell you what if it works

7theye · Answer

Hello,

I had the same issue, I fixed it by changing the oplocks which was "disable", set to "enable" and there was no more problem.

To understand better:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296264

Keep us posted.

Manu · Answer

Hello,

I had the same problem, here’s what I did to solve it:

1. Since cut/paste preserves the original rights and Copy/Paste inherits the rights of the destination, I figured the file might come from another source and the transfer method might not have been suitable. I then replicated the permissions on the child objects: no success.
2. Looking in the folder where the file appeared, I noticed an old temporary file (same name) within it. Deleting this file resolved the issue.

Hoping this will help resolve your problem.

Have a good day,

Emmanuel

roro · Answer

another cause of the problem: the directory containing this file is read-only ;)

Excel 2007 locked for editing

13 answers

Invisible text boxes or word forms on pdf

Display issue in google

Use your holiday vouchers to pay tolls for free

Xiaomi redmi note 13 pro+ 5g disable ads?

Transfer data to a new pc

Print a page in the right orientation under windows 11

I don’t know, i don’t understand anything, i’m 76 years old and i’m not sure

No internet connection possible

Put in the correct order

Unable to open xsl and xslx files