Locked out of database

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hello:
Please help me. I have set up security on my database and set a password for
myself. I am now locked out the database as I thought I set a particular
password but didn't. I am also locked out of all access programs. Is there a
way that I can overide this?
Thanks,
J
 
Another related question. Why is it that I now need a password for all the
access files on my computer?
Thanks,
J
 
Jade5 said:
Another related question. Why is it that I now need a password for
all the access files on my computer?
Click to expand...

If you set up user-level security, not just a database password, you
probably either modified the default workgroup (system.mdw) or created
and joined a new workgroup. If you joined a new workgroup, you can use
the Workgroup Administrator to rejoin the system.mdw newsgroup. In
Access 2002, the Workgroup Administrator is available via the menu item
Tools -> Security -> Workgroup Administrator...

Rather than joining and leaving different workgroups all the time, I'd
recommend creating a desktop shortcut to open the secured database. The
command line of the shortcut can specify the specific workgroup file to
use with the /wrkgrp argument.
 
Hello:
I set up a work group using the Work group admin and I set up Groups and
permissions in the database but did not use the User-level security wizard
yet.
How can I check if I have joined more than 1 group or modified the
system.mdw file? Also, can I delete the Workgroup and start again?
Thanks,
Jackie.
 
Jade5 said:
Hello:
I set up a work group using the Work group admin and I set up Groups
and permissions in the database but did not use the User-level
security wizard yet.
How can I check if I have joined more than 1 group or modified the
system.mdw file? Also, can I delete the Workgroup and start again?
Click to expand...

I don't remember all the details, so I suggest you carefully read the
Access Security FAQ. A link to it, and a downloadable version, are
posted here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/207793/en-us

Note that, although that page is for Access 2000, it applies to later
versions as well (though the Security Wizard is much improved in Access
2002).

If you start the Workgroup Administrator, it will show you what
workgroup you are currently joined to. If you're currently joined to
system.mdw, and are still being prompted for a username and password,
then you have modified that workgroup file, rather than creating a new
one, joining it, and modifying that.

If you have actually secured your database with a workgroup file, DO NOT
delete that workgroup. I believe that would lock you out of your
database thoroughly -- maybe not irretrievably, but requiring serious
cracking software to get back in. However, it may be that you didn't
actually secure your database, but just created users and groups. In
that case, you can probably get into the database using the original
system.mdw file. If you modifed the system.mdw file, you might try
*renaming* that .mdw file to another name (in case you need to get it
back). I *think* Access may create a new one if it can't find the
system.mdw file; if that vague memory is wrong, you should be able to
find the original system.mdw file somewhere on your hard disk or on the
Office/Access install CDs.

Also, read what the Security FAQ has to say about "de-securing" a
database. I'll repeat my advice: read the Security FAQ carefully.
 
Thank you Dirk. This security thing is no walk in the park. :) I will proceed
with caution.
J.
 
How do I get the SQL SERVER MIGRATION ASSISTANT to prompt me for workgroup
security login and password. I'm unable to import anything without those
credentials.
 
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