Word Docs/Excel Opening as Read Only after MS Update

Anonymous
2013-08-15T18:27:44+00:00

Team after this weeks update from Microsoft all my Word and Excel documents that I create save fine, but when I open them they open in Read only mode.  I have to keep performing a save as with a new file name to get by the issue.    I also get an error that I had not received  before when opening some older Word and Excel documents.  The error reads "There was a problem sending the command to the program".  I click on OK and the error goes away and the document opens, but again in Read only mode.  HELP....

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2013-08-16T07:00:20+00:00

Hi,

As I understand when you save and open the document, the documents open in read only mode and you also receive an error message while opening the documents. Let me assist you with the issue.

Follow the steps mentioned and check if it helps:

Step 1: Check if Office applications are running in compatibility mode:

·         Browse to the location mentioned below:

For Win7 32 bit:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\ClentX86 \Root\Office15

For Win7 64 bit:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\ClientX64\Root\Office15

·         Right click on WINWORD.EXE< Properties< Compatibility

·         Uncheck the box Run this Program in Compatibility Mode, ensure you also click on the option change settings for all users tab at the bottom of the same screen

·         Click on Apply and Ok.

·         Open Word and check if it works.

Note: If Word works fine then follow the above steps for Excel applications (EXCEL.EXE)

Step 2: Check the option to save the Word or Excel files in read only mode is check:

·         Open Word document.

·         Click on File< Save As< Browse to the location where you want to save the file.

·         Click on arrow mark pointing downwards next to Tools and click on General Options.

·         Ensure the option Read-only recommended is unchecked and click Ok.

·         Now try to save the document, re-pen the saved document and check.

Step 3: Repair Office 2013 installation:

If the above steps do not fix the issue then repair Office 2013 installation and check. Refer the link mentioned to repair Office 2013 installation:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-in/project-help/repair-or-remove-office-HA010357402.aspx

I hope the above suggestion helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.

Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-15T20:31:46+00:00

    This happens to me with every MS update. Every single time, I have to repair the installation, but it does work. Very annoying, however, and I hope for a more permanent solution.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-21T19:59:38+00:00

    In Word, click 'Open' and browse to the list of folders/files. You'll notice on right, to the left of the blue circle with question mark, a little icon and when you hover your mouse, it will say either hide or show preview pane. You want to make sure you hide preview pane. The problem of opening a docx in "Read-Only" mode won't happen again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-16T15:21:50+00:00

    This happens every time I get an MS update!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-25T05:39:22+00:00

    As we can see from the discussion thread, there are various MS Office Apps and versions that are impacted by the infamous "[Read Only]" and "[Protected]" modes.

    There are multiple ways and methods to workaround the issue, however, as Doug Robbins pointed out,

    Are the affected files within  the "Trusted Location"? 

    For example,

    Open Excel 2013 >> Click on [File] Tab  >> Select [Options] >> Select [Trust Center] >> Click [Trust Center Settings...] button >> Select [Trusted Locations].

    Note the locations Trusted to open the files.

    • Select [Add new location] button
    • Enter the location [Path] of the document(s) folders to be in the Trusted Location list.  For example:

    C:\Users\UserNameHere\Documents

    • Check-box [Subfolders of this location are also trusted]
    • Click [OK] to accept and close

    The New location path should now appear within the Trusted Locations [User Locations] windows pane

    • Click [OK] on each remaining Options window to Close
    • Exit Excel and reopen and attempt to Load document(s) without [Read Only] and/or [Protected] mode.

    Reminder:

    If your documents are Not already within this newly created Trusted Location folder

    (IE MyDocuments, Documents, etc.)...

    • Copy your documents to the newly created Trusted Location
    • or -
    • Create a new Trusted Location where these documents / files exist (include the Subfolder checkbox).

    Additional Reference:

    Add, remove, or change a trusted location

    https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-remove-or-change-a-trusted-location-7ee1cdc2-483e-4cbb-bcb3-4e7c67147fb4

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