I cannot move, rename, or delete a Microsoft Word Document on my Finder

Question

Level 1

6 points

I cannot move, rename, or delete a Microsoft Word Document on my Finder

I had no clue which category to put this in as I cannot find another with a similar problem.

Basically I have a new Macbook Pro and a licenced version of Microsoft Office for Mac 08.

I had a problem with a file the other day which would not save, and over a long process I lost the file (luckily use time machine) had to reinstall office as word wouldnt open without option of sending error report, then many a times I got the error of it not being possible to move the document into the trash after making other copies etc etc etc

Now however that issue seems to be sorted, I have six versions of this document showing up in Finder, when I right click, the only options are to Open, Open Containing Folder, Get Info, and Quick Look.

The files are all Microsoft Documents but they wont open with this, when I click it, it says The alias “Final model plan and process.docx” can’t be opened because the original item can’t be found. and then find alias which I dont want to click on Microsoft Office incase it corrupts it again!

Also the files only show up in ALL MY FILES not however MY DOCUMENTS

I want to delete all these files as I feel they are somehow the problem that lead to all of this. However I cant move rename or delete it.

Any help is appreciated,

Posted on Dec 19, 2012 2:10 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 19, 2012 2:13 PM in response to AlfiePeacock

Select each file and click Command + i . The info window will open and at the bottom you will see the permission to operate on the file.

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Answer 2

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 19, 2012 2:16 PM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

Did that and it says under Sharing & Permissions: You have unknown access

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Answer 3

Dec 19, 2012 2:21 PM in response to AlfiePeacock

Try to change the permissions (you will probably need to be logged in as administrator) in a way to give yourself all permissions.

Another way which can help is the general Repair Permission on the Drive with the Disc Utility. I am not sure which is the way of Office to recover its files and which permissions are given to them.

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Answer 4

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 19, 2012 2:26 PM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

I am the only user of this laptop, no option is available whist hovering over that area of the info

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Answer 5

Dec 19, 2012 2:36 PM in response to AlfiePeacock

I send you 2 print of my system. They are in Italian but you will understand: it will be the same in english.

Do you see at the bottom the way to add a new person ? Click on +

After click on + you will have at the top the possible users to select , like here

You may select yourself or administrators..

then select read and write permission

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Answer 6

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 19, 2012 2:51 PM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

I understand that thanks, I'll print screen and show you what it looks like, its a major bug

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Answer 7

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 20, 2012 3:35 AM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

This is what comes up when I right click over any of the items. Notice how the options have been removed. This is clearly a big bug.

Any idea as to how to get rid of it with perhaps Terminal or Safe Mode?

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Answer 8

Dec 20, 2012 4:30 AM in response to AlfiePeacock

Difficoult.

Sorry if I ask something you have alrteady done. Have you repaired permissions ?

This problem is only related to this group of files recovered by Office or is it a general problem ?

I found this thread which has somethig to do with your problem

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1289115

At this point I have no better suggestion.

I would try to create a new account and see if you can delete the files from that account. Or at least from that account add "everyone" with read and write permission.

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Answer 9

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 20, 2012 5:03 AM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

I wouldnt know how to repair the permissions, dont be sorry you've tried to help so thankyou!

Just the office files, however something really strange happened this morning. I turned on my computer and the files were still there. So I went into safe mode after turning the mac off, then I went into All My Files and absolutely nothing was showing up. turned off and on again and the files were gone. They are probably still somewhere on my mac but I cant access them via all my files or see them anywhere. I suppose its a good thing they have gone from all my files.

Currently downloading Sophos Anti Virus to see if that can find anything!

Thankyou again

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Answer 10

Dec 20, 2012 8:32 AM in response to AlfiePeacock

Thanks Alfie.

I do not get 100% of the meaning of your first sentence (English is not my mother language).

Repair permissions is easy. Just launch Disc Utility (or Utility Disc in English ?) you find it under Utility folden in Applications.

Select your main Disc in the left side of the window and at bottom click on Repair Permissions. It will take few minutes. You will see a list of repairs performed: don't care if something will remain not repaired; important is at the end of the job you get the result "Repair succesful" or something like that.

Be carefull with Antivirus. I do not know Sophos but I know for sure that some Antivirus can give more troubles than advantage. And we do not need antivirus on Mac.

Thanks for the points. I like this Community, it is my pleasure, like many others here, to help if I can and to develop our hobby we need problems 🙂

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Answer 11

AlfiePeacock Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 20, 2012 8:50 AM in response to WALTER-MILANO-ITALY

Thanks again! Currently repairing the permissions as I type.

I checked out Sophos and its had good reviews, was just to check it hasnt bugged my mac but think I'm fine!

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