Can't change or save Word 2010 docs: Read Only

**swanoir** · 2011-02-09 18:26

I am currently working on a dual boot machine that boots to WinXP or Win 7. In Win XP, all my documents open correctly in Compatibility Mode - I can save and edit them without problems.

In Win 7, however, all my .doc files open as "Read Only." I cannot save them. I have gone into the Trust Center and unchecked all the boxes in the "File Block Settings." There are, however, some settings such as "Word 2003 Binary Documents" and Templates and "Word 97 Binary Documents and Templates" that do not have a check box to uncheck for "Save" so there is nothing I can do about that. If I create a new Word document, however, with the .docx extension, it will then let me edit and save the document.

I have gone into the "My Documents" directory and done the elaborate security thing where you take ownership of the files so that you can change them, but this hasn't helped. They still open as "Read Only." All these files are on my hard drive - they are not on a network. I have created all these .doc files and they are not accessed by anyone else. All the files are being opened in Word 2010 - the only difference is the OS I am opening them in.

Any ideas?

**RetiredGeek** · 2011-02-09 20:00

Swanoir,

Do the .doc files have macros {vba} attached? If so try going into the Trust Center and setting the folder they are in to a Trusted Location.

***ruirib*** · 2011-02-10 07:16

Are the documents opening in Protected View?

**swanoir** · 2011-02-10 23:54

I tried setting the folder to a Trusted Location. No love.

The documents are not opening in Protected View. The are opening in Read Only with no other options. I have all the Protected view options shut off. Interestingly, we have Word 2010 at our clinic and the same documents open in Win 7 in Compatibility View. Not sure what that means.

**Wavtrees** · 2011-02-11 18:34

I use Read Only documents quite a bit for students. Apologies in advance if you have already tried this: Have you tried a simple Save As and change the file type to Word document?

**swanoir** · 2011-02-11 20:12

I have tried Save As and changing the format type to Word document (for example, changing to .docx) but this creates a brand new document. I have over a thousand documents in one directory alone! So after doing this, I would need to go back into that directory and delete all the duplicate files, which is a lot of work. I would rather understand why this behavior is happening. Judging from my research on the Internet, I am not the only one having this problem. And, again, it does not seem to be happening on all my computers, which begs the question why is this happening at all.

**swanoir** · 2011-02-12 03:05

I think I have found a solution. It appears to have been a combination of the security/attribute system in Win 7 and the UAC. The "read only" problem is fairly wide spread in Vista and Win 7. According to Microsoft, "The Read-only attribute for a folder is typically ignored by Windows, Windows components and accessories, and other programs. For example, you can delete, rename, and change a folder with the Read-only attribute by using Windows Explorer. The Read-only and System attributes is only used by Windows Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by Windows (for example, My Documents, Favorites, Fonts, Downloaded Program Files), or a folder that you customized by using the Customize tab of the folder’s Properties dialog box.”

However, it appears many things can occur to make Win 7 take the "read only" attribute more literally. Though I tried many ways to remove the "read only" attribute from data folders, including going into DOS, I was unsuccessful. And, in fact, the My Documents and My Music folders are still read only. The only work around I could find was to shut off the UAC completely. I can now freely edit my documents, as well as my music files in iTunes.

For more information: http://itexpertvoice.com/home/fixing...-folder-blues/

**Svansteen** · 2011-02-17 08:19

I also have this problem (and my machine is not dual-boot, I use Win 7 exclusively). It happens when I try to open a Word .doc file from its containing folder through Explorer. Double click on the file, and up pops the Read Only warning. However, if I right-click on the file and choose "Open" from the context menu, it opens with no problem! Why this works, I have no idea. But you may want to give it a try.

**jscher2000** · 2011-02-18 15:32

Originally Posted by Svansteen

I also have this problem (and my machine is not dual-boot, I use Win 7 exclusively). It happens when I try to open a Word .doc file from its containing folder through Explorer. Double click on the file, and up pops the Read Only warning. However, if I right-click on the file and choose "Open" from the context menu, it opens with no problem!

Traditionally, Open was the default action and appeared in bold type on the right-click menu. On your right-click menu, is a different action bolded (i.e., set as the default action)?

**sjtroxel1** · 2012-07-12 12:21

I was having the same problem with Word 2010 after a clean reinstall of Windows 7. I could overwrite, move, and delete the file from within Windows Explorer, but couldn't do anything with it using Word. I couldn't even save any file to that location (My Documents) using Word. I checked the file and folder attributes using Windows Explorer, and nothing appeared as Read-Only. After other solutions posted on several forums did not work, I had the bright idea to open Windows Explorer in administrator mode, and lo and behold, my entire user folder was Read-Only. Unchecked the box, clicked apply, and it's all good now. I've found that "Run as Administrator" can fix a lot of problems, but for some reason I don't think about it until I've run myself ragged looking for solutions.

Right-click on Windows Explorer
Select "Run as Administrator"
Click on "YES" in the User Account Control pop-up
Navigate to the folder in question and right-click on it
Uncheck the "Read-Only" block
Click "Apply"

Strangely, when I go back and look at the properties a second time, it shows up as Read-Only again, but Word saves normally. I'm not sure what the deal is with that, and it bothers me a bit, but at least it works.

**BigMac56** · 2012-07-12 23:57

Another thing to watch for, I've found that in Windows 7 Explorer, if I had the "Preview" window turned on, when I actually opened documents, they would be read only. Had to close either Explorer, or the Preview function in order to save changes.

**carolb** · 2012-07-17 09:55

I'm having the same issues as the original poster - I have 'saved as' docx and as this problem has only been around for me the last couple of weeks (despite having had this laptop set up for over a year) so thought I would just delete the old file but it won't let me. Despite having no word software or documents open at all, it tells me "word is currently using this file and it cannot be deleted".

The 'read only' and 'compatibility mode' appear at the top of an open document, sometimes whether its a 97/03 or 2010 document, but not always and that's what's driving me crazy!

Any other ideas cos I've tried everything in the list so far

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