Strange “locked for editing by another user” on file server

Question

Good morning

Sometimes we are experiencing a strange effect on our file servers and all the usual/known reasons cannot explain it:

If a user tries to open a file (word or excel) he's getting the well know message saying the file is “locked for editing by 'user XYZ'” -> the user who is allegedly "locking" the files (user XYZ) is always the same one and it's a simple domain user, no domain admin or such.

Furthermore: "user XYZ" has never opened these files, since, according to the ACLs, he's not allowed to do so. He has no rights on the affected files.

What we've already done / checked:

• It's not the temporary ownership file “~$myfile.doc”
• No one, with the exception oft the person who's trying to open it legitimately, has opend the file -> we've all file audit policies enabled, no according entries in the event logs

I guess, theres something wrong with the AD user "user XYZ", since he seems to be the only affected user. But what ?

All Servers are Windows Server 2016 Standard

Any ideas ?

Thanks in advance - Roger

Answer 1

Hello @Roger Rüegg

Please check if this thread helps.

According to here:
This behavior may occur if Word determines that the owner file for the document already exists.
This may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:
Word previously quit improperly and, therefore, did not delete the owner file.
-or-
A second instance of Word is running in the background with the document already open.
-or-
The document is shared over a network, and another user has it open.

7 Ways To Fix Excel File Is Locked For Editing By Another User Issue

Best Regards
Karlie

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