This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked :s

Anonymous
2010-02-13T21:14:19+00:00
Please check out Microsoft<br> Word message: "You can't make this change because this selection is locked."  for the latest information on this topic.

Hiya.

So I keep getting the above message only on my Microsoft WORD Document. When I open the Document everything is locked - I cannot click anywhere.

Initially I thought it was beacuse I was using the trail version, so I installed a full version of Office Home and Student 2007 (My sister lend me her disk, it had 2 download licenses remaining, so I used one). Everything else: Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote is working fine. But the WORD document is still locked.

I would really appriciate your help.

Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2010-02-13T21:37:52+00:00

Hi. I cracked it, and thought i would share it with you.

All I had to do was to close the document, write click on properties > Advance and uncheck 'File is ready for archiving' and 'Allow this document to have file indexed in addition to ....' > click on ok and it worked.

ta mch.

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2010-11-13T15:39:48+00:00

    Is your grandmother's computer a laptop? Generally speaking, a retail version of most SKUs of Office (Home and Student Edition is an exception) allows simultaneous installation on one laptop and one desktop, assumed not to be in use simultaneously (in other words, a single user can install it on two computers). If your GM has already used it on a laptop, then you would be able to install it on a desktop but not a laptop (assuming that the installer can distinguish the system type, which I'm not confident it can). Note, however, that you are already violating the EULA by trying to install the same product for two separate users.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2010-11-13T21:44:59+00:00

    Because that would be considered a fresh install.  After you use it 50 times on that machine without activating it, you will find yourself in the same situation.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-16T14:21:09+00:00

    I encountered this same issue, but the File Is Ready for Archiving solution did not work.

    It appears that in my case, the document had already been archived so I required an additional step to resolve the locked selection. I had to click on the Windows Button > Prepare > and unclick the Mark As Final option. That freed up all of the locked ribbon buttons as well as the document text for editing.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-05T11:52:30+00:00

    I had the same problem. Turns out that my free trial was up so until I have the money to pay for the full version I found a quick + easy way to edit my documents.

     When you pull up My Documents + go to open the one you want DON'T double click it, RIGHT CLICK on it instead + choose Open W/. You can use regular WordPad or if you have another program. 

    I know plain wordpad doesn't have all the bells + whistles but it gets the job done for now. Just a quick fix, hope it helps.

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