Read-only? File is being used by...

I dunno.
What's happing to me?
I've just begun using this new computer for working documents. I'm running XP and not that familiar with it.

Unlike in 95 or 98, I would simply open my files and work. But now when I attempt to open a Word or Excel document, I receive a message saying that the file is already being used by (a named user.) Do I want to open it read-only?

The problem is that there is only one user name, no passwords and no already opened copies. The OS regards me at that point as not the same user. And it sees the file as "being modified," but it doesn’t appear to be running at all.

This is a possible cause:
I am networked to the computer that has 98. All files are open to sharing on both machines. But I don't see a conflict here, if I'm trying to access my own HD.

 

permissions

In xp it's all about security=permissions. Have someon in the "know" help you coz ya sound sorta lost & this is not the time click just anywhere! Right click "my Computer" select Manage/ click local users & groups. Someone in your user group can help here

 

Boy, you got that right, cowhand.
I didn't expect to get into trouble just by getting XP. I have been reading the help files, but I can't see my way out of it. This is a home LAN with 2 lousy computers on it. There are no other "accounts" except GUEST, which has been turned off. I am the "administrator," but I seem not to be able to manage the account (options are greyed out.)
I see that this account has two "profiles." One is called (my name.) The other is much smaller in file size and is called "Account Unknown. "
If I turn on the Guest Account, there are then three profiles. I'm finding this on the Advance Tab of system Properties of My Computer.
Does it seem that I inadvertently created the Unknown? Or is two profiles a setup default for Computer Administrator?
The idea being: does the problem I first explained come from the system thinking there are two "users" trying to access the same file?
An option to opening read-only is to Notify when the file is able to be opened after the "first user (me)" saves and closes. HELP speaks about 'versions ot the file.'

Summarizing, the three profiles look like this:

1. Account Unknown
2. ComputerName\Guest
3. ComputerName\UserName
   [/list=1]

 

winxp

It's a tough one to understand because there is many splinters in the setup. However you have noticed there are 3 accounts by default. 1=All Users 2=Default User 3=Adminstrator (you or your name)

Again tho, when you enter "computer managment" in the local users & groups, the word "guest" appears. Also under the Groups icon you can ADD users

In control panel, click on "local Security Settings" now open local policies/users rights asignment. Look in the right side for what mite help you.

In the next menu=Security Options look for disbled lines that should be Enabled. It's sorta fooling around tho & I'm not in your CHAIR I have the same network as you do however, two boxs one twin o/s xp & 98se the other just xp. BTW.....Profiles are another can-a-worms