I'm hoping someone can explain this behavior

1. create a new excel spreadsheet
2. Highlight A1:E10 right click, select "Format Cells" "Protection", and
turn off the "Locked" Property for the selected cells
3. Click Tools Protection Protect Sheet
4. Untick "Select locked cells" and add a password Click ok
5. Save the sheet as test.xls
6. With test.xls still open click the New icon to create a new spreadsheet
in the same instance of excel
7. Type some text in cell A1, copy and paste the text to A1 in test.xls
8. Notice that the cell is NOT locked and is selectable
9. Next open a new session of Excel i.e. start it from the programs menu or
a shortcut etc
10. Type some text in B1 and copy and paste it into cell B1 in test.xls
11. Notice that cell B1 is now locked and is NOT selectable

I would have thought that it should be consistant regardless of the session
of excel the source of the pasted text comes from. It appears the locked
property is only copied over with the text when the text is outside of the
excel session.