Opening Microsoft Excel file problem?

Question

I have a user who cant open her .xls file which is stored on a flash drive (Lexar FAT32 256MB). The message that comes back says

'file.xls' cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only, or you may be trying a access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on my bot be responding.

Extra Info:
User running XP Pro SP2
Office 2003

**Things I have already done.

Opened up other files, everything works good.

The user works on two other computers, so I had her open them on those computers just in case read-only was set on those.

Made sure windows could see the drive as being healty (good)

Checked the file properties for read-only (not set).

Made sure Read-only was off of file properties.

Made sure the read-only switch on the side was off.

Doesnt let me copy or move file

Answer 1

Copy the file to the Desktop First. Then it will open normally.

TIP: You may have to right-click, choose Properties and un-check the "Read Only" box. to modify the file.

Answer 2

I don't have a solution yet, but I'm stuck with the same problem. Apparently Office 2003 opens *ALL* files on a removable drive as read-only, Excel, Word and PowerPoint do it for me, when connected to a USB portable drive (Apricorn). Office 2000 works ok on any OS, but I'm having the read-only issue with 2003 on XP (SP2) and Vista. On XP I found a temporary solution by getting my user account set as administrator, but that hasn't worked on Vista & I'll lose those rights soon enough, not to mention that "fix" only works on one computer. I've posted this question in several forums, but so far no solution, that's how I found this thread.

If anyone else out there can help us, the issue again is Office 2003 opening files on a removable drive as read-only. The files are not tagged as such, the drive is not protected or shared, saving with another name or creating a file from scratch *is* allowed. The same files can be copied into the hard drive, modified, then copied back with no problems (replacing the original file), but I have thousands of files in the portable drive to make this practical.

Curiously enough, if you re-save or create a file in the portable, unplug it, then plug it again later on, that file will also open as read-only from that moment on.

I've tried setting user access rights, share rights, checking all files as read-only & then removing it. Nothing works. I use my portable as a way to keep my office & home files sync'd over 3 computers & this is driving me insane.

Heeeelp! Pretty please?

Many thanks.

Rosie

Answer 3

not basically can it open it, it may shop a record as a Microsoft Excel record. for this reason saving you the hassle of switching thoroughly over. although OpenOffice won't open the .docx information, that's a kind of rfile record used via some Microsoft be conscious processors.

Answer 4

Look on the USB flash drive... there is a tiny switch on it... is it in the LOCK position?

Can you copy the file to a desktop, and then open it from there ok?