Microsoft KB Archive/286892

Knowledge Base

You receive an error message when you try to open or replace a Word document

Article ID: 286892

Article Last Modified on 7/16/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q286892

For a Microsoft Word 2003 version of this article, see 813980.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open or replace (overwrite) an encrypted Microsoft Word document, you may be unable to do so, and you may receive one of the error messages described in the following scenarios.

NOTE: If the Word document is password-protected, you may be prompted twice to enter the password, instead of once as expected.

Case 1

When you attempt to open or replace the Word document in Microsoft Word 2002, 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\filename)

Case 2

When you attempt 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\filename)

When you click OK, the Save As dialog box appears and you are able to save the document by using a different file name.

Case 3

When you attempt 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\filename)

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

286890 WD2002: Error Message: "The Document Name or Path Is Not Valid" When You Use the Wrong Password to Open a Word Document

Case 4

When you attempt 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\filename)

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

286890 WD2002: Error Message: "The Document Name or Path Is Not Valid" When You Use the Wrong Password to Open a Word Document

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the Word document that you are attempting to open or replace is encrypted with a type of file encryption that is not available on your computer.

Case 1

You receive this error message when you attempt to open or replace a Word 2002 document that was saved with an encryption scheme, or with an encryption key length, that is not available on your computer.

Case 2

You receive this error message when you attempt to replace (overwrite) an encrypted Word 2002 document whose encryption level is not supported by Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft Word 2000.

Case 3

You receive this error message when you attempt to open an encrypted Word 2002 document whose encryption level is not supported in Word 2000.

Case 4

You receive this error message when you attempt to open an encrypted Word 2002 document whose encryption level is not supported in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Update Encryption Support

Install an encryption pack available for your version of Microsoft Internet Explorer or your Microsoft Windows operating system. To do this, browse to the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/recommended/128bit/default.mspx

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) available on your computer, or request a copy of the document without encryption.

NOTE: To determine the Word 2002 encryption level available on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Word 2002.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. In the Options dialog box, click Advanced on the Security tab.
4. In the Encryption Type dialog box, note the encryption types (and key lengths) available on the computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about encrypting or saving a Word document with a password, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type encryption in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290112 General Information about Microsoft Office Encryption

286890 WD2002: Error Message: "The Document Name or Path Is Not Valid" When You Use the Wrong Password to Open a Word Document

Additional query words: prb docnamepatherr OfficeErrorMessages 10099

Keywords: kbopenfile kbsavefile kbprb kberrmsg KB286892

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