"This command is not available because the document is locked for edit" error message when you try to edit old or new documents in Office XP and in Office 2003

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This article was previously published under Q316032

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to edit old or new documents, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

This command is not available because the document is locked for edit.

You cannot create any new documents and you cannot save documents. Additionally, you may also notice many menu commands are unavailable (appear dimmed).

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This issue occurs when Microsoft Office has not been activated or the issue occurs after the Office program has been activated, and then the program has not been closed. Without activation, Office programs operate in Reduced Functionality mode and exhibit this behavior.

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RESOLUTION

To check whether the product has been activated, click Activate Product on the Help menu. If the product has been activated, a dialog box is a displayed with a statement that the product has been activated. Otherwise, the Office Activation Wizard starts and permits you to activate the product.

Note After you activate the product, you may have to quit the product and then restart the product.

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