Can only open a network file in Excel as read only

[starriol]

We have a problem with several files in a folder.
Sometimes when opening certain files I get the following error (translated by me from spanish so the error might sound a little weird ) : "The file 'file.xls' is reserved by . Type the write access password or open it as read only". And I have 3 options, accept (avaible after typing in the password), cancel or read only.

The weird thing is that the error says "reserved by .". That means, no user is listed.
Also, I never heard of this function in excel before. No user seems to be doing this.
Maybe the problem lays in out Windows 2003 server.
Also, another weird thing is that the error happens even when the files are closed; no user is editing them and the problem reamains.

Any ideas?

BTW, the Excel and Windows that have this problem (haven't tried another versions) are both 2000.

 

[Allanv]

i would say that the server isnt releasing the locks on that file, try downloading a small utility thats called wholockme and see if that help you narrow it down.

either that get onto the server and just kill the file from there

 

[moulin1]

Old question but here is your answer if you need it. Some office apps hang when you close them. They disappear from the screen but are still running in the background. When they do this, they don't release thier reservation on the file. Close excel on your machine and go to Task Manager. If the excel process is still running in task manager, kill it. If its not track down every machine that accessed the file and do the same thing. This is 99% sure your answer