Password Problems

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I was attempting to pass word protect a file for ms-access 2000. After going through a few attempts at protecting the file with the same password, I aborted (or at least I thought I did) this attempt.

A day later, I rebooted my pc. I attempted to open a different access file. I now have to “logon” to open any file with the “mdb” extension. I can’t even create a new database file without first completing this “logon” window.

This window asks for both a user name and password. I know I didn’t put a user name in when attempting to password protect it.

I have cleared all of the passwords with the “pwl” extension. I have removed, restarted, and put access back on my pc, but I still get the same “logon” window.

I have also downloaded a few applications to attempt to find the password, but all of these applications tell me that these files are not password protected.

Any information to get rid of this logon window would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Greg

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There’s an excellent chance that the id you want is “admin”. That is the default id in Access; whenever you start Access if it finds that admin has no password it doesn’t prompt you for an id and password. You seem to have been playing with user and group security rather than just setting a database password.

The users and groups (and their passwords) are stored (in an encrypted form) in your system.mdw file, the default workgroup file used by Access. Since it is the default, that’s why every time you use Access you are getting prompted for an id and password.

I assume you remember the password you were trying to set. Open any database, specifying “admin” and whatever that password was. You might get asked for another password after that (if you managed to also set a database password on the database you’re opening). Hopefully you were consistent in the password you were trying to set! Once you’re in, go to Security | User and Group Accounts…, make sure “admin” is showing, and click “Clear Password” (that should be right for A2K; I’m running A97 at this instant – it’ll be similar if not the same). Once admin no longer has a password you won’t be prompted for an id any more.

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Thanks Douglas,

Your information was really helpful. I was able to clear the password that was found in the user/group security section within Access.

Thanks Again.

Greg

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