When you protect the worksheet, scroll down and check "edit objects".

This will allow comments to be added/removed/changed--along with other objects
(pictures/shapes/etc).

dan400man wrote:

Using Excel 2002, I have a worksheet that I have "protected" so that only a
certain block of cells can be selected/edited. Today, I have a new
requirement to be able to add/edit/delete cell comments on those cells that
remain unlocked. But the options to do so on the cell context menu disappear
when the worksheet is protected, but reappear when the worksheet is
unprotected.

--

Dave Peterson