Word 2007 and Word 2003 password to modify

[David]

I can create a word 2007 document and set a password to modify (save as,
tools, general options, password to modify, ok, reenter pwd and save)and the
protection works (opens read only or enter password dialog box), however if I
use word 2003 to open the document the document is no longer password
protected. I am saving as a docx format and the office 2003 machine has the
compatibility pack for 2007 and this appears to function the same way on
multiple office 2003 machines. Why is this happening?

 

[Terry Farrell]

Because W2007 uses a different mechanism for encryption. I thought it had
been fixed with a servicepack. Are all your installation fully patched up to
date?

 

[David]

I checked and apparently some of the office updates were not automatically
installed, so I am not fully patched on both machines. Word 2007
(12.0.6504.5000) sp2 MSO (12.0.6425.1000) and on word 2003 (11.8307.8221) sp3
Note, password to open works for both 2007 and 2003 just fine, it is the
password to modify that is not working. When I copy the word 2007 doc to the
word 2003 machine, I can just open the doc and start typing and click save
and it saves without prompting etc.

 

[David]

I am fully patched and still no luck. I cannot believe that this is by
design, this should be backwards compatible (password to open works) so why
not password to modify?

 

[Terry Farrell]

I am unable to test this now. I know there were problems with passwords, but
I thought they had been sorted. You'll have to call MS and see if they have
a hotfix for it.

Terry