“I get the Save As box for My documents and when I save it, it comes back as read only.”
This is how to change the read only attribute in Excel 2000. Maybe it will work in 97 also. Before you open the spreadsheet, right click on it. On the dropdown menu click properties. Uncheck the check mark in Read Only box. Click apply. Click close.
When you open the spreadsheet you should be able to use it.