Can't clear the password

Environment:
Access 2003 SP2
opening an Access 2002-2003 file on my local hard drive
on WinXP machine.



My client received a password-protected database that I am going to work
with.
The password works fine, I can open the database, but I want to clear the
password.

I set the default to Open Exclusive:
Tools | Options | Advanced and selected Exclusive and Default open mode and
closed Access.

Made sure the file was specifically opened exclusively:
Opened Access, selected File, Open, selected my password-protected file,
clicked on the down-arrow to the right of the "Open" box, which was already
checked as "Open Exclusive", and it opened, prompted me for the password,
which I entered.

Tried to clear the password:
Tools | Security | Unset Database Password

Got the error message:
"You need to have the database open for exclusive use to set or unset the
database password.

To open the database exclusively, close the database, and then reopen it
using the Open command on the file menu. In the Open dialog box, click the
arrow to the right of the Open button, and then chooose Open Exclusive."


So, now what?