SYMPTOMS
When you try to open or to replace (overwrite) an encrypted
Word document, you may not be able to do so, and you may receive one of the
error messages that is described in the following scenarios.
Note If the Word document is password-protected, you may be prompted
to type the password two times instead of one time as you expect.
Case 1
When you try to open or replace the Word document in Word 2003,
you receive the following error message:
Word cannot open
this file. The encryption type used is not available, contact the author of the
file. More encryption types are available using the High Encryption
Pack.
(path\file_name)
Case 2
When you try to save a Word document by replacing (overwriting)
an existing file, you receive the following error message:
You cannot save while the file is in use by another
process. Try saving the file with a new name.
(path\file_name)
When you click
OK, the
Save As
dialog box appears, and you can save the document by using a different file
name.
Case 3
When you try to open a Word document, the document is not opened,
and you receive the following error message:
The document
name or path is not valid. Try these suggestions.
* Check the file
permissions for the document or drive.
* Use the File Open dialog box to
locate the document.
(path\file_name)
Case 4
When you try to open a Word document, the document is not opened,
and you receive the following error message:
Word cannot
open the document. Try one or more of the following:
* On the File menu,
click Open to open the document.
* Make sure the document has a .DOC
extension.
(path\file_name)
WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, use one of the following
methods.
Method 1: Update Encryption Support
Install an encryption pack for your version of Microsoft Internet
Explorer or your Microsoft Windows operating system. For information about how
to do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Method 2: Remove or Lower the Level of Document Encryption
Contact the author of the document to have the encryption level
lowered to an encryption level or key length that is available on your
computer, or request a copy of the document without encryption.
To
determine the Word 2003 encryption level that is available on your computer:
- Start Word 2003, and then open a new blank
document.
- On the Tools menu, click
Options.
- In the Options dialog box, click the
Security tab, and then click
Advanced.
- In the Encryption Type dialog box, note
the encryption types and key lengths that are available on the
computer.