old password

[Rusty]

I just resurected an old business plan from 2004 that I "PW protected". Am I
hooped or is there a way to find out what that is?

 

[Otto Moehrbach]

Rusty
Below is a lot of information on your problem. Read it all and use what you
can. HTH Otto
Password, Forgot It
Age-Old Problem. Go To This Site For Help/Guidance:
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm

These Are Good Too:
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html
http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm
http://www.lostpassword.com
http://www.lostpassword.com/msofpass97.htm
http://www.password-crackers.com/pwdcracking.html#news
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/fileandvbapwords.html

If it's a worksheet password, you can use the macro below (takes under a
minute), or for
either worksheet or workbook passwords, download password.xla from
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm

Sub PasswordBreaker()
'Name of the Author lost in antiquity
'Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _
& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _
& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub

If it's a file password, try a commercial service such as
http://www.lostpassword.com

Another version of the same macro is:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
'by Bob McCormick on NG: microsoft.public.excel.misc
'on 22 May 2001.
'Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer

On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66
For j = 65 To 66
For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66
For m = 65 To 66
For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66
For i3 = 65 To 66
For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66
For i6 = 65 To 66
For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _
& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One useble password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _
& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
On Error GoTo 0
End Sub

Below is a standard response to the "forgot password" query.
From Norman Harker
Here's the standard collation of resources:

Please note that unauthorized use of password recovery techniques can breach
software
license agreements and leave you without otherwise available assistance and
remedies. You
may also be liable to being sued or even prosecuted under the terms of the
software
license. You can in some cases be in breach of terms of your employment
contract and find
yourself out on the street.

You are also warned that civil and criminal proceedings risks should not be
viewed lightly.
If in any doubt, don't! Most, if not all, software providers, will assist by
email, free of
charge, genuine cases where users have lost passwords and/or registration
codes.

The real lessons to be learned? Keep a track of your passwords. Look after
your employees
and they'll not leave without telling you the passwords! Excel is not, and
has never been
made out to be, secure as a mode of storing data.

The following sites advertise ability to recover, amongst other things,
Excel file
passwords. These passwords are imposed when saving Excel files and are not
to be confused
with *internal* passwords on sheets and workbook structure.

http://www.intertek.org.uk/
Excel Workbook recovery. Demo version up to 2 characters free. Full version
for $5 advertises ability to recover any password.

Elcomsoft Advanced Office XP Password Recovery
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aoxppr.html
Unregistered (trial) version can be used during 30 days after installation
(although it
doesn't expire, actually) and has some limitations. They have programs for
earlier
versions. Cost of license $30

Lostpassword.Com
http://www.lostpassword.com/excel.htm
All versions of MS Excel are supported (including Excel 2002) $45. Download
demo version
covers 2 character passwords and works but not much use. The licensed
version covers
passwords up to 9 characters. They do have a 4-7 day guaranteed decryption
service for a
fee!

AccentSoft Excel password recovery
http://www.denglad.com/en/excel.shtml
Free trial version for up to 4 characters. Covers Excel 97 - XP. License $25

Soft4You
http://www.soft4you.com/excel/default.asp
Downloadable free trial up to 3 characters. Covers Excel 4.0 to XP. Workbook
Version
License $35 Workbook + VBA License $49. They also have a guaranteed password
recovery
service done on a per document basis.

Discount Password Recovery
http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com/
Operates on a per document basis. 8+ characters ca

 

[trip_to_tokyo]

Rusty, I believe that there are, "password breakers" freely available on the
internet which would enable to to get round this.

If my comments have helped please hit Yes.

Thanks.