Locked Out

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

Guest

I was playing with the security wizards on a database I would like to set up
user accounts on. Now I cannot get into any database. Every database I try
to open asks me for a password. I have not set a password for myself.

I can put these mdb files on another computer and open just fine.

I also printed and saved the ONe Step Security Wizard Report, for what it's
worth.

Can someone help me undo this?

Thanks,
Paul
Richmond, VA
 
Paul said:
I was playing with the security wizards on a database I would like to
set up user accounts on. Now I cannot get into any database. Every
database I try to open asks me for a password. I have not set a
password for myself.
Click to expand...

That indicates that the workgroup you created to secure the mdb is now your
default workgroup. Every session of Access uses a workgroup file (it ships
with system.mdw and uses that for all sessions, logging you in silently as
'Admin'). Use the workgroup administrator (Tools, Security), to rejoin the
system.mdw - search for it first.
I can put these mdb files on another computer and open just fine.
Click to expand...

Really? Then what version of Access are you using? Did the wizard create a
desktop shortcut for you to open your secure mdb with?
I also printed and saved the ONe Step Security Wizard Report, for
what it's worth.
Click to expand...

If you want to undo security completely, the wizard kept an unsecure copy of
your mdb (unless you declined this). Look for a file in the same folder as
your mdb, but with a bak extension. Once you rejoin system.mdw, you can
restore this unsecured mdb by changing the extension from bak to mdb in
Windows Explorer.
 
I can put these mdb files on another computer and open just fine.
Really? Then what version of Access are you using?
Click to expand...

Yes really. I am using Access 2003.

I tried what you said and I was already joined to System.mdw. Rejoining
did not help. I accidently stumbled across a solution. I copied the
system.mdw, then deleted the original with the intention of replacing it with
the same file from my other PC. Before I did I tried again to open a
database on the problem computer and wala! it opened. I checked and a new
system.mdw was created. Even the database I was trying to secure now opens.

Not sure how I created this mess. I am used to learning by doing. I thought
I was safe by experimenting on a back up copy of my database. Somehow I
applied changes to the System.mdb. At least I have a way to unlock
everything, thought I'm sure it's not the preferred method.

Thanks,

Paul
 
I'm not sure how you did this. In my experimenting, Access 2003 wizard
doesn't let me modify the default system.mdw.
 
then deleted the original

I strongly suggest that you /do not/ delete files, especially while you
are learning the process, unless you are absolutely cerain of exactly
what you are doing!

Instead, just rename the file to something else. Then you can delete
the renamed file later on, when all seems good, OR rename it back, if
you made a mistake.

HTH,
TC
 
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