Word and Excel - record/file locks?

[Jodi]

I am having an issue with both Word and Excel where if I
open a file, work on it and save changes, close it and
then try to reopen it later in the day it says that the
file is already open or it freezes the computer.

Also - if I have a Word or Excel file open and I minimize
it (to avoid the above) - then I try to maximize it again
it closes the file and program. When I then reopen the
program the file comes back up in document recovery -
any suggestions?

I am on WinXP and Office 2002. I have tried running the
repair on the original CD and that does nothing.

Thank you!!