Locked database prohibits changing security

  • Thread starter Thread starter MTennant
  • Start date Start date
M

MTennant

I see many messages on this group about security gone awry...locked
out of databases, password problems, but it seems that most solutions
involve a fundamental problem: you need to get into the database to
change security settings. My problem is that I am locked out so don't
know how to do that.

I am an Access amateur, in that I have created databases using wizards
but don't know coding. After installing Access 2003, I followed all
the scary and annoying warnings to download security measures and use
the security wizard. I obviously didn't understand what I was doing,
and now I am required to enter a password....even though I didn't set
up one....and it won't let me in. I downloaded a program that
supposedly finds the missing password for you, but the program
reported that there isn't a password.

I don't need security and just want to open the databases, as I could
with previous versions of Access. Can anyone help? Many thanks.
 
MTennant said:
I am an Access amateur, in that I have created databases using wizards
but don't know coding. After installing Access 2003, I followed all
the scary and annoying warnings to download security measures and use
the security wizard.
Click to expand...

You misread the warnings. It wasn't necessary to run the security wizard.

The wizard should have done the following (provided you didn't decline)
- create a desktop shortcut to start your database
- create a backup of your database
- created a report of important information to print out.
I obviously didn't understand what I was doing,
and now I am required to enter a password....even though I didn't set
up one....and it won't let me in. I downloaded a program that
supposedly finds the missing password for you, but the program
reported that there isn't a password.
Click to expand...

Is it asking for just a password, or username/password. I think the latter.
The program you tried was to find a database password (that's not the same
as username/password)
I don't need security and just want to open the databases, as I could
with previous versions of Access. Can anyone help? Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Since you don't want security, try the following:

Use start, search, and locate all files on your computer *.mdw
One should be named system.mdw, and there will/should be others.

Open Access, but don't open a database. Go to Tools, security, workgroup
administrator. This will tell you the mdw file you are currently joined to.
Click on Join and navigate to the system.mdw you found above. This should
be the workgroup that ships with Access, and should be clear of any
security.

If you are still getting a login, then close Access, find the system.mdw and
rename it to system1.mdw. Open Access and it should create a new system.mdw
for you with no login required.

Also if you did run one of your databases through the wizard, there will be
an unsecured version of it. It will be in the same folder, but have a bak
extension rather than mdb. If you see if, delete the mdb and rename the bak
to have a mdb extension. You should be back to square one, but post back if
any further problems.
 
Joan Wild said:
You misread the warnings. It wasn't necessary to run the security wizard.

The wizard should have done the following (provided you didn't decline)
- create a desktop shortcut to start your database
- create a backup of your database
- created a report of important information to print out.


Is it asking for just a password, or username/password. I think the latter.
The program you tried was to find a database password (that's not the same
as username/password)


Since you don't want security, try the following:

Use start, search, and locate all files on your computer *.mdw
One should be named system.mdw, and there will/should be others.

Open Access, but don't open a database. Go to Tools, security, workgroup
administrator. This will tell you the mdw file you are currently joined to.
Click on Join and navigate to the system.mdw you found above. This should
be the workgroup that ships with Access, and should be clear of any
security.

If you are still getting a login, then close Access, find the system.mdw and
rename it to system1.mdw. Open Access and it should create a new system.mdw
for you with no login required.

Also if you did run one of your databases through the wizard, there will be
an unsecured version of it. It will be in the same folder, but have a bak
extension rather than mdb. If you see if, delete the mdb and rename the bak
to have a mdb extension. You should be back to square one, but post back if
any further problems.
Click to expand...


You are absolutely right...it was asking for a username/password.
Actually, I had previously joined all the other .mdws, then got "can't
open without permission" message, so this time deleted the .mdw to
which it was pointing, and let Access use the default workgroup file.
Then followed your advice, deleted the "secure" db, and renamed the
..bak one. Worked like a charm, can now get into everything, free and
clear (and unsecure). Thanks so much!
 
MTennant said:
You are absolutely right...it was asking for a username/password.
Actually, I had previously joined all the other .mdws, then got "can't
open without permission" message, so this time deleted the .mdw to
which it was pointing, and let Access use the default workgroup file.
Then followed your advice, deleted the "secure" db, and renamed the
.bak one. Worked like a charm, can now get into everything, free and
clear (and unsecure). Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

Glad you got it sorted.
 
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