Excel 2003/2010 Password incompatibility issue

**LetaC** · 06-24-2013, 06:54 AM

I have a spreadsheet initially created in 2003. We had a software upgrade last week to 2010 and I saved the file with password protection. The sheet is shared but is now completely locked, with no data entry allowed whatsoever by anyone and no password prompt is given to the user either. When I go to the Options view and look at Permissions the only available option is Restrict Permission by People all the others are greyed out. The option chosen is Unrestricted Access. The options on the Review tab are also greyed out except for Share Workbook and Protect Shared Workbook. Changing either of these makes no difference whatsoever to the options available on the File/Permissions option. Anyone any ideas on how to get this back to normal? It's making my brain hurt

**:) Sixthsense :)** · 06-24-2013, 07:42 AM

You can't able to access the Protect/Unprotect sheet when the file is in shared mode. Remove the sharing and try to access it.

Note: While removing sharing ensure that there is no user is connected with that workbook to avoid data loss

**LetaC** · 06-24-2013, 07:48 AM

Unfortunately Sharing and/or unsharing doesn't work - already tried that

The sheet seems to be well and truly locked down.

**LetaC** · 06-24-2013, 08:16 AM

Eureka!! For anyone that may experience a similar problem the resolution is:

Save a copy of the file as Excel 5.0/95 Workbook. This, for some reason, removes the incompatbilty issue and allows you to unprotect the sheet and give you access to the password protection. As I knew the password there wasn't an issue although I can imagine if you don't know the password you could have serious issues. Anyhoo, once I had access to the password I've been able to take the file back to it's original set up.