forgot password / secured file

[Joan Wild]

I was setting up user accounts last Friday with passwords,
and set one up for myself (I guess). I didn't think it
took, but after I rebooted, it prompted me for a password
to get in the database file. Of course I didn't write it
down, nor do I remember it.

Did it prompt you for a password or a username/password?
What version of Access?

I noticed that it created a "Secured" file as a file type
"Microsoft Access Workgroup Information".

'it' created - what did? - were you running the security wizard; did you do
this yourself?

Can I just delete this file and reset the user group
information?

Not a good idea just yet.

I believe I set myself up as administrator.

Why do you believe this? What did you do?

[Joan Wild]

Hi Debbie,

Joan,
I did this same thing too in an MSAccess database. Now I
cannot get into any of my MSAccess databases (on the same
computer) without a name and password. I use MSAccess
2000.

This means that you are joined by default to a mdw file that has a password
set for the Admin user.

Access ships with system.mdw and security is already implemented whenever
you use Access. For all databases, it uses this system.mdw file and
silently logs you in as the 'Admin' user which has full privileges.

Once you set a password for the Admin user, the login is no longer silent
and you get the login prompt.

When you create a new mdw file, Access makes that the default one to use.
This is why you are getting the login for all databases.

You can use wrkgadm.exe to rejoin the system.mdw file as your default.

I think this is what I did, in a database in which
some features require administrator privledges to access.
Tools --> security --> user and group accounts --> change
logon password - I left the old password blank, then
entered a new one.

Well, changing the password has nothing to do with the database you have
open. Passwords are stored in the mdw file. So it would depend on the
workgroup file you were using.

I have emailed the person who gave me the database to see
if he has the password, in hopes that that is what I need
to get into the files.
I tried uninstalling, then reinstalling MSOffice 2000 on
my computer. And I copied one of the databases onto a
disk and was able to open it on another computer with any
problems. Any suggestions? I would think that forgetting
a password is not uncommon, and there must be a way around
it.

I take it you meant 'without any problems'.

This last paragraph tells me that your database is not secured. I would use
Start, Find, Files or Folders and locate all *.mdw files on your computer.

One of them should be system.mdw in c:\windows\system or C:\winnt\system32.
This is the original mdw that ships with Access.

Any others that you find, I'd delete (back them up to diskette for safety
first).

Use Start, Run, wrkgadm.exe and click Join and join the system.mdw in the
system folder. Start Access and open your database.

You should not get a login prompt.

[Joan Wild]

Debbie,

Use Start, Run, wrkgadm.exe and post back with the path/filename of the
workgroup you are currently joined to.
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP

Hi Joan,
I just saw your reply below and will look into the
security FAQ. Also - somewhat good news - I tried logging
in as Guest and leaving the password blank - and got in
the database. I still need to get rid of the
administrator password though.
Debbie

[Debbie]

Using start, run, and entering wrkgadm.exe, I got an error
message saying that the computer couldn't find the file,
but I used search, and found it here:

c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\1033

-----Original Message-----
Debbie,
Use Start, Run, wrkgadm.exe and post back with the

path/filename of the

workgroup you are currently joined to.
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP

Hi Joan,
I just saw your reply below and will look into the
security FAQ. Also - somewhat good news - I tried

logging

in as Guest and leaving the password blank - and got in
the database. I still need to get rid of the
administrator password though.
Debbie

.

[Debbie]

Joan,

I clicked on wrkgadm.exe, and followed the steps to join
to system.mdw. I restarted my computer, and I still get
the username/password prompt when I try to open an Access
file.

system.mdw was in C:\Program files\Common files\system.
It is the only .mdw on my computer.

I can open MSAccess without the username/password prompt.
But when I create a new database by clicking blank Access
database, it the username/password prompt appears.

Debbie

-----Original Message-----

Post by Debbie
Using start, run, and entering wrkgadm.exe, I got an

error

Post by Debbie
message saying that the computer couldn't find the file,
c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\1033

So you have only one mdw file in the above location?
Did you/are you joined by default to this one?
Do you still get a username/password prompt when you open

Access?

Are you able to open Access, but it's when you open a

database that you are

getting a username/password prompt?
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP
.

[Joan Wild]

Thanks for the specifics. I would copy a system.mdw from another computer
(backup yours and delete it).
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP

Post by Debbie
Joan,
I clicked on wrkgadm.exe, and followed the steps to join
to system.mdw. I restarted my computer, and I still get
the username/password prompt when I try to open an Access
file.
system.mdw was in C:\Program files\Common files\system.
It is the only .mdw on my computer.
I can open MSAccess without the username/password prompt.
But when I create a new database by clicking blank Access
database, it the username/password prompt appears.
Debbie

-----Original Message-----

Post by Debbie
Using start, run, and entering wrkgadm.exe, I got an

error

Post by Debbie
message saying that the computer couldn't find the file,
c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\1033

So you have only one mdw file in the above location?
Did you/are you joined by default to this one?
Do you still get a username/password prompt when you open

Access?

Are you able to open Access, but it's when you open a

database that you are

getting a username/password prompt?
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP
.

[Larry Aiello]

Hi Joan

thanks for your help. I tried it with a blank and it
worked. After I had to guess at the user name that I
created. It defaulted to my network login user ID, which
is different from the one I created in Access.

Again, thanks for your help.

Larry

-----Original Message-----

-----Original Message-----

in

It's asking for a username and password.
The version is 2000
What did I do? Well, I think I set myself up as a user

in

the "Admins" section. I first started to go through the
wizzard, but it didn't look like it was what I wanted.
then I went into the "User and Group Accounts"
I thought the security would be file specific.

No it isn't. Users, Groups, passwords are stored in the

Workgroup

Information File. Permissions for any users/groups are

stored in the

database.

Anyway,
then I wanted to create some "user" accounts and try to
log in, but it wasn't working.

It likely wasn't working because you were trying to type

in an invalid

password (the PID you set when you created the user is

not their password).

A user's password is initially blank. Try logging in

using a blank

password.
So I thought I didn't set

anything, and then when I rebooted, it prompted for the
username and password.

That suggests that you are joined by default to this new

secure workgroup

information file that the wizard created for you. Try

logging as the user

(you) that is a member of the Admins group; use a blank

password. See if

that gets you in.
If you don't have it, it is essential that you download

and study the

security FAQ available at
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=207793
Follow *every* step outlined in order. Every phrase is

important.

Other good sources are the
Security Whitepaper
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=148555
Although the whitepaper is old, it contains information

to help you

understand security.
Other good reads
Lynn Trapp's
http://www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jack MacDonald's
www.geocities.com/jacksonmacd
Security in Access isn't trivial, and you'll get yourself

good and buried if

you don't do some studying first.
--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP
.