Can't password protect docx

[Neo314]

I can password protect doc files, but of course every time I do Word 2007
suggests I use docx.

Everytime I try to password protect a docx file, it saves without password
protection. I can't seem to Google any answer to this problem.

 

[Gordon]

I can password protect doc files, but of course every time I do Word 2007
suggests I use docx.

Everytime I try to password protect a docx file, it saves without password
protection. I can't seem to Google any answer to this problem.

And how are you trying to do this? (Presumably you are using Word 2007....)

 

[Neo314]

I'm using Word 2007, and I figured by stating I could password protect doc
files, it would be clear I knew how to password protect the files (at least I
assume I do).

In the save or save as dialogue choose tools > general options and set a
password for opening the file.

 

[Gordon]

I'm using Word 2007, and I figured by stating I could password protect doc
files, it would be clear I knew how to password protect the files (at
least I
assume I do).

In the save or save as dialogue choose tools > general options and set a
password for opening the file.

Have you tried the Protect button instead?

 

[Gordon]

I'm using Word 2007, and I figured by stating I could password protect doc
files, it would be clear I knew how to password protect the files (at
least I
assume I do).

In the save or save as dialogue choose tools > general options and set a
password for opening the file.

Works OK here.......

 

[Beth Melton]

After you password protect the document have you tried closing the document
and restarting Word to verify the password wasn't added?

Also, if you are selecting the .docx file type after being prompted with the
suggestion to use the new file format are you also clicking Tools/General
Options to verify the password is still present?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Beth Melton]

Using Protect Document doesn't require a password to open the document. It's
not intended to be used as a security option either since it's easy to
bypass. The intention is for a collaborative environment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Neo314]

Thank you for replying and yes to all counts. I have also rebooted numerous
times and deleted all temporary files. Also, Microsoft Office Diagnostics
found no errors.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Neo,

Is this a personal machine or a company one? There are settings available to try to block documents Office 2007 file format
documents from being password protected that may have been set if it's a corporate environment.

What are the steps you're using? Does it work on .docm files, and does it work if you hold the control key when starting Word then
creating a protecting a new file.

============
Thank you for replying and yes to all counts. I have also rebooted numerous
times and deleted all temporary files. Also, Microsoft Office Diagnostics
found no errors. >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[Neo314]

It is a personal business machine. Since my Google's have been unsuccessful,
can you tell me what those settings would be and I can check them.

The steps are described earlier, but basically tools > general options >
Password to open.

I can set passwords on doc files but not on docx files. I don't know what a
docm file is.

I just tried starting in safe mode, and I get the same results.

What next?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Neo,

The settings would usually apply to all of the Office 2007 apps.
What happens if you try the same procedure in Excel 2007 with the default save choice there also set to Excel 97-2003 files and then
save as a .xlsx file?
Does the password 'stick' there?

Are you saving to the My documents folder or to another location?
Are all of the files involved on the local hard drive rather than on mapped or network drives?

================
It is a personal business machine. Since my Google's have been unsuccessful,
can you tell me what those settings would be and I can check them.

The steps are described earlier, but basically tools > general options >
Password to open.

I can set passwords on doc files but not on docx files. I don't know what a
docm file is.

I just tried starting in safe mode, and I get the same results.

What next? >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[Neo314]

Whoa... a few questions there... See responses below...

Hi Neo,

The settings would usually apply to all of the Office 2007 apps.
What happens if you try the same procedure in Excel 2007 with the default save choice there also set to Excel 97-2003 files and then
save as a .xlsx file?
Does the password 'stick' there?

The password works for xls, but I can't seem to creat an xlsx file. I get
the error message:
Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file
'C:\Users\Steven\Documents\0995A600'
and the reasons why this might happen. The file being saved has a totally
different name entered of course, and the last part (0995A600) changes with
every attempt.

Are you saving to the My documents folder or to another location?

Both with the same results.

Are all of the files involved on the local hard drive rather than on mapped or network drives?

Both with the same results.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Neo,

Hmmm. It's difficult to say if it's an add-in, a corrupted installation or a corrupted profile.

In Excel options, if you set the default save type to XLSX (Excel 2007 worksheet), create a new worksheet and use Office
Button=>Save As can you save that document?

If you Start Word and Excel in Safe mode, hold ctrl key when starting each can you save files without the problems.

If you check
Control Panel=>Advanced=>[Environment Variables]
to see if the temp and tmp varibles are pointing to valid local folders on the hard drive.

Are you able to log in with a different profile and then have the same issues?

==================
Whoa... a few questions there... See responses below...

The password works for xls, but I can't seem to creat an xlsx file. I get
the error message:
Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file
'C:\Users\Steven\Documents\0995A600'
and the reasons why this might happen. The file being saved has a totally
different name entered of course, and the last part (0995A600) changes with
every attempt.

Are you saving to the My documents folder or to another location?

Both with the same results.

Are all of the files involved on the local hard drive rather than on mapped or network drives?

Both with the same results. >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[Neo314]

This is frustrating. I keep thinking I am set to be notified of replies and
sometimes I am and sometimes I am not. Now I spent 15 minutes trying to reply
and had to log off and log back on to reply. Argggh.

Ok, Yes I can save the xlsx format.

Yes I can save in both programs in safe mode.

In safe mode I cannot save either with password protection. The xlsx file
still produces the same error, and the docx file still saves but is not
actually password protected.

The Temp folder is valid.

I also deleted all the temp files. No change.

Hi Neo,

Hmmm. It's difficult to say if it's an add-in, a corrupted installation or a corrupted profile.

In Excel options, if you set the default save type to XLSX (Excel 2007 worksheet), create a new worksheet and use Office
Button=>Save As can you save that document?

If you Start Word and Excel in Safe mode, hold ctrl key when starting each can you save files without the problems.

If you check
Control Panel=>Advanced=>[Environment Variables]
to see if the temp and tmp varibles are pointing to valid local folders on the hard drive.

Are you able to log in with a different profile and then have the same issues?

==================
Whoa... a few questions there... See responses below...

The password works for xls, but I can't seem to creat an xlsx file. I get
the error message:
Microsoft Office Excel cannot access the file
'C:\Users\Steven\Documents\0995A600'
and the reasons why this might happen. The file being saved has a totally
different name entered of course, and the last part (0995A600) changes with
every attempt.

Are you saving to the My documents folder or to another location?

Both with the same results.

Are all of the files involved on the local hard drive rather than on mapped or network drives?

Both with the same results. >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[mdeno2807]

Hey guys, was a solution to this problem ever found?

I'm having the same problem. We're using Word 2007 within a Citrix
environment, however the password protection feature isn't working for
'Opening' a document.

If I save the document and place a modification password on the
document, I cannot open it and modify the document without the correct
password.

However, if I only place an 'open' password on the document, it
bypasses it without any password being entered.

Even more confusion now. If I save a .doc document through Word 2003,
and place a password on the document. I cannot open it in Word 2007, it
states the password is incorrect. It isn't.

This is only for Word 2007....we can password protect Excel 2007
(.xlsx) documents without any problems.

Could this be a group policy setting? Any other ideas?

Entering Word in safe mode makes no difference. It still doesn't work.


Any suggestions, or things to try would be much appreciated.

 

[mdeno2807]

Further to my 2 previous messages, I've now been advised that passwor
protecting Word docs in .docx format fails when using Citrix or throug
an RDP session.

Can anybody confirm otherwise

 

[FancyFiber]

This may be a little out of date and hopefully you already found you
solution, but I thought I would post for anybody else that finds thi
thread in the future.

I had this same issue and turns out it is caused by Mandatory Profile
(in my case). Microsoft limits the use of certificates with Mandator
Profiles. See KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/264732/

and

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940790

The only workaround I have found, and I have not tested yet but a
confident it will work, is using Immidio Flex Profiles.

Hope this helps someone

 

[mauricec]

Is there asolution to this problem?

I'm having the same problem. We're using office 2007 we can passwor
protect previous versions but not 2007 versions

 

[Gordon]

Is there asolution to this problem?

I'm having the same problem. We're using office 2007 we can password
protect previous versions but not 2007 versions.

Office Button-Prepare-Encrypt Document. Where do you get stuck?