Olympus Ws-100 voice recorder locked

Try to reformat your device( do not use a PC.) instructions are in your operators manual...it will mean you will lose all recorded information but at the moment you cant use the machine anyway.

The lock is to prevent accidental erasure of files....if you have lost your operators manual go to www.olympusamerica.com you will find manuals under "support."

http://www.olympusamerica.com/files/oima_cckb/WS-100_WS-200S_Instructions_EN.pdf

You can download the user manual of OLYMPUS WS-110 HERE ( http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_manuals.asp?id=1321).

TO DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE CLICK HERE

WS-100: 64 MB
HQ mode: Approx. 4 hours 20 minutes
SP mode: Approx. 8 hours 40 minutes
LP mode: Approx. 27 hours 20 minutes

You can go to the menu of the device and change the recording mode from HQ to SP to get longer recording time. Page 7 of the instructions explains how to change this.

The recorded file comes up as a text document on my computer instead of a recording?  Do I need to download some sort of program on my computer? 

format the recorder through the menu and this will erase all the files

you can not do this with the Olympus ws-100, you need a dictation machine that has the editing function which allows you to easily insert, overwrite, partially erase files and continue on the same file, most of the digital dictation units have NEW FILE BUTTON , you will stay recording on the same file till you press new.
Look at Olympus DS-2300. Olympus DS-33300 or ds-4000.

what do you mean locked? there is an hold button that slides and then you can't use any buttons, try to slide it the other way to unlock it.

do you mean lock?
you can just lock the buttons by sliding the hold button.