Word 2007 Can't open encrypted docx from Word 2010

[Chris Nicola]

When I send some friends a password protected word document created in Word 2010 they can't open it using word 2007 which is compatible with docx by using the correct password. I have no choice but to send as a Word doc instead of docx so they can open it.

Word 2007 User 1: Word launches no password box no error messages just the blue screen.

Word 2007 User 2: Gets the error message: “Word cannot open this file . The encryption type used is not available. Contact the author of the file. More encryption types are available in the High Encryption Pack.”

Therefore I suspect some kind of encryption pack must be installed. I believe the user 1 has XP and user 2 has Win 2000 pro. are using XP. Do you know where these encryption packs are available? The other possibility might be for me to reduce the encription level when I create a password protected docx but I have no idea how to do that.

Is there a solution to this problem?


Kind Regards

Chris




Kind Regards
Chris

 

[Golden]

Hi Chris,

I've been looking at this for a while, but cannot find an answer.

The only thing I can come up with, is an alternate suggestion, which I am sure you have probably thought of : use something like 7ZIP to encrypt the file, and then send that to your friends.

7ZIP

Regards,
Golden

 

[Chris Nicola]

Golden, thank you for your reply. Yes as you mention it would be a good idea to send the file as an encrypted zip file. If it is sent as an encrypted doc instead of docx they can also open it. It just seems strange that as both Word 2007 and 2010 can handle docx files why encryption compatibility should be a problem. I also posted this question on the Microsoft Answers forum but did not find a solution. I was hoping that the Word 2007 users might need some kind of update to solve the problem.

Word 2007 Can't open password protected docx from Word 2010 - Microsoft Answers

Kind Regards
Chris

 

[Golden]

Mmmm. Just read the MS Answers thread....it does sound like a common issue. Perhaps 2007 isn't as compatible with 2010 as we might have hoped. In the meantime, there is always 7ZIP........

Regards,
Golden

 

[Irene]

Hi Chris

May be of no use at all, but here is a step by step guide to Word 2010 file encryption:
Add Security to Your Important Documents in Office 2010 - How-To Geek

.... just in case there is a small step which you are missing - I wondered about 'permissions'.

Encrypt Your Documents
How to encrypt a Word document with a password. Click on the file tab to access Backstage View, click on Info, Protect Document, and select Encrypt with Password.

Enter in a password to encrypt the document…

Then confirm the password making sure they match then click OK.

After the encryption password has been entered, you’ll see a Permissions message that a password is required to open the document.

Now when you or someone else tries to open the document, the correct password will need to be entered to access it.

Also, encrypted documents cannot be opened in Web Apps. They will need to be opened in a local version of Word and the correct password entered in.

 

[kenfry]

Solution for Office 2007 to open Office 2010 password encrypted files

Just in case someone still finds this old post, as I did looking for a solution, I found that installing the 290 MB Office Service Pack 2, from Download: The 2007 Microsoft Office Suite Service Pack 2 (SP2) - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details enables Office 2007 to open files saved with encrypted passwords from Office 2010. I had this problem after my Office 2010 30 day trial ran out and I reverted back to Office 2007 and it hadn't had enough time to automatically find the SP2 update. Thanks.