Now a days we are facing some strange issue in our file servers. Users are not able to rename/move/delete the excel files (first time they can do this, but once the file saved and closed they can't do it again). They are getting the error saying 'It is being used by another person or program' though it is not using by anyuser/program. If we reboot the server the issue will be resolved, but again the problem persists with some other files/shares. This is not with the particular user or share. OS in these servers is Windows 2003 Standard edition with SP1. We have upgraded to SP2 in one server and still the problem exists. Antivirus is upto date.

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Since a week or two we're experiencing the same trouble. This affects only excel and pdf files. When I copy such a file, the copy is editable but the original remains 'locked' (the file is not read only and the rights assignment is correct) After a server reboot the files are free to delete but after some time the file gets 'locked' again. Now I use a utility called 'unlocker' to mark the ##*!! files to either delete or rename but this is solving the consequences and I'd like to solve the cause of this problem. Can anyone help me out?


On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 7:38 am, GMR wrote:
>Now a days we are facing some strange issue in our file servers. Users are not able
>to rename/move/delete the excel files (first time they can do this, but once the
>file saved and closed they can't do it again). They are getting the error saying
>'It is being used by another person or program' though it is not using by anyuser/program.
>
>If we reboot the server the issue will be resolved, but again the problem persists
>with some other files/shares. This is not with the particular user or share. OS
>in these servers is Windows 2003 Standard edition with SP1. We have upgraded to SP2
>in one server and still the problem exists.
>
>Antivirus is upto date.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Jumbo, I have got the patch from microsoft but unfortunately it didn't help us as we are already running the latest Service Pack 1 & 2. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887707 Try in your server, if you are not using SP1, may be it will help you.


On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 8:35 am, Jumbo wrote:
>Since a week or two we're experiencing the same trouble. This affects only excel
>and pdf files. When I copy such a file, the copy is editable but the original remains
>'locked' (the file is not read only and the rights assignment is correct)
>
>After a server reboot the files are free to delete but after some time the file gets
>'locked' again. Now I use a utility called 'unlocker' to mark the ##*!! files to
>either delete or rename but this is solving the consequences and I'd like to solve
>the cause of this problem.
>
>Can anyone help me out?
>
>
>

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We've been having the same problem with our Windows 2003 SP2 server since end of February/early March. The problem only happens with Excel files. The Excel file can be modified and saved, but the file can't be moved, deleted or renamed. As stated previously, if I reboot the server, the problem goes away until the Excel file is first opened then it appears locked permanently until the next reboot. I'm wondering if a recent Microsoft update has suddenly caused this problem? We have McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0 with patch 16 and latest DAT installed on the server, any chance either of you are using this as well? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, as this problem is really frustrating!!

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We're also experiencing this problem. I'm also seeing mysterious shadow copy errors that I suspect may be related. Shadow copy is turned off for all drives on this server, yet the errors persist. Also using McAfee Virus Scan 8i patch 16. Re-applying Windows Server 2003 Sp2 seems to stop the problems for awhile, but the next time updates are installed it returns. Our virtual to physical server migration tool can't identify the operating system.


On Monday, April 14, 2008 at 10:11 am, DBI wrote:
>We've been having the same problem with our Windows 2003 SP2 server since end of
>February/early March. The problem only happens with Excel files. The Excel file
>can be modified and saved, but the file can't be moved, deleted or renamed. As stated
>previously, if I reboot the server, the problem goes away until the Excel file is
>first opened then it appears locked permanently until the next reboot. I'm wondering
>if a recent Microsoft update has suddenly caused this problem? We have McAfee VirusScan
>Enterprise 8.0 with patch 16 and latest DAT installed on the server, any chance either
>of you are using this as well? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, as this problem
>is really frustrating!!

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Info regarding this issue from McAfee https://knowledge.mcafee.com/article/431/614778_f.SAL_Public.html

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ELP, thanks so much regarding the McAfee problem. I had suspected McAfee might be behind the problem because I installed patch 16 (from patch 15) at around the time people started complaining about their Excel files. I'll try the solution and post back on my findings.

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Just wanted to post an update. I talked to McAfee tech support yesterday to obtain the hotfix (apparently that's the only way to get it as it's not available on their website). Installed the hotfix, rebooted the server and things appear back to normal - I can delete, move, rename Excel files again! Hope this works for everyone and thanks again to ELP for digging up the info!

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Hi Guys, This problem is with McAfee 8.0i patch 16 only. I have upgraded to 8.5i in all servers in which I was facing issues. It solved the issue. Now everything is working fine. GMR

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