WD: Password Protection Lost When Saving as Earlier Versions

ID: Q193545

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a password protected file in Word, one or more of the following error messages may be displayed:

Cannot convert password protected documents
Word cannot open the document.

CAUSE

Access to a file is restricted when the document has been saved with any type of password protection. All of the converters in Microsoft Word will not convert password protected files.

WORKAROUND

Open and re-save the document without password protection in the original program before you open the document in Word.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Word 6.0 or in Word for Windows 95, version 7.0, you cannot convert a password-protected file from Word 97.

Similarly, you cannot convert a password-protected file created in another word processor (such as Word Perfect, AmiPro, or Enable) from any version of Word.

NOTE: The password protection feature in Word requires you to type a case- sensitive password before you can open a document. Word converters do not prompt you for the password, and will not allow you to convert a password protected document.

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107736
   TITLE     : Cannot Convert WordPerfect Password-Protected File

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135780
   TITLE     : WD6X: Converted WordPerfect 5.x File Becomes Password
               Protected

   ARTICLE-ID: Q98916
   TITLE     : WD5X: Can't Open Password-Protected WinWord Doc in MacWord
               5.x

   ARTICLE-ID: Q125299
   TITLE     : Ami Pro 3.x Converter Limitations

   ARTICLE-ID: Q121000
   TITLE     : Enable Word Processing Converter Capabilities and
               Limitations

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107200
   TITLE     : Converting Password-Protected Documents in Word for Windows

   ARTICLE-ID: Q141012
   TITLE     : Find Fast Does Not Index Password Protected Files

   ARTICLE-ID: Q105781
   TITLE     : Relationship Between Available Disk Space and Conversions

Additional query words: conversion converting stripped

Keywords          : kbdta word6 word7 word95 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999