What version of Word are you using and what patches do you have
installed? Did you try using "Detect and Repair" found under the Help
menu?
Also, the locked for edit message could be due to either a temporary
file called an Owner file or there is an instance of Word locked in
memory. First restart your computer and see if you still encounter the
prompt.
If you do then more than likely you have an orphaned Owner file. An
Owner file is stored in the same folder as the document, it is a
hidden file, and will have a file name that looks something like:
~$FileName.doc.
Make sure you are viewing hidden files and delete any Owner files you
find.
Background on Owner files:
When a document is opened an Owner file is created. This holds the
user info of the individual that currently has the document open. This
is a temp file and is deleted when the document is closed. However if
an error should occur such as an IPF then Word is unable to delete the
Owner file. So the next time the document is opened, Word "sees" that
an Owner file exists and presents the message, "file is in use". I've
also noticed that this can happen if you manually delete the Owner
file but the document isn't released from memory.
For more information on this and a full clean-up procedure take a look
at this article:
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/LockedFiles.htm
--
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
Word FAQ:
http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine:
http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site:
http://mvps.org/