File Access Errors

	January 7, 2008
Your Update from the Directory for IT Newsletters	142,266 Subscribers
File Access Errors With the intent to protect your computer from being compromised, Microsoft introduced a boat load of file access errors with the latest service pack for Office applications.  Are you surprised? Microsoft claims Service Pack 3 (SP3), released in September 2003, “represents a major evolution in security for Office 2003…and further hardens the Office suite against potential attacks and other security threats.”  Much of this is accomplished by disabling old file formats. The blocked files are found in older versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as Corel Draw and Lotus 1-2-3.   Using our office as an example, I would surmise there are a lot of Microsoft users who have not bought into Microsoft marketing schemes and continue to use these older software versions.  Applying the SP3 update will restrict access to older “risky” files within these programs and ultimately cause a lot of frustration and unproductive work time. To fix the errors introduced in SP3 you would need to edit the Windows registry – a touchy task and an area our IT manager has absolutely forbid us to enter – or download and run some programs outlined on David LeBlanc’s blog.   Another option is to convert older documents in bulk into the OpenXML format.  Using tools in the Office Migration Planning Manager (OMPM) kit will make this task a lot simpler.  “OMPM is great because it doesn’t overwrite the original files at all, it simply makes a copy of the file in the new format so there is no risk,” said Tarpara, an IT evangelist for Microsoft.   A final option, one I am sure Microsoft would not agree with, is to not apply SP3.  Hmmm…tough decision? Deb Alloway Editor   Subscribe Archives TechNewsletters Advertise Free eBook - IT Management 101: Fundamentals to Achieve More An electronic book every person with responsibility for IT management must read. Tools for .Net Make working with Windows RSS and ATOM Platforms easy. Details >>> Display 10,000 news and headlines on your site for free. FeedSweep.com shows you how. Click here to give your PC a 2 minute tune up. PC Booster gives you peace of mind, a cleaner PC system, kills nasty cookies, etc.
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