Catherine

You could first try starting Excel in safe mode. To do this, in windows go
to StartRun... and type excel.exe /safe (insert a space between exe and the
slash). Try opening, saving as a new file name the file. If that doesn't
work, try starting the computer in safe mode.

Re-boot and press F8 during the boot should give you the option. Try opening
the file in this state and then save as some other name or delete the file.

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
DTHIS
web: www.excelusergroup.org
web: www.nickhodge.co.uk





"Catherine" wrote in message
...
I altered a file that I got from someone else. There is no one else using
my
computer (a laptop). I saved and closed the file (the file MIGHT have
been
closed with an unplanned shutdown). Now I cannot open the file for
editing
because it says it is locked by ME. How do I either open it or delete it?
thank you.