Excel workbook password - not working

[JB]

Hi,

When trying to open a .xls file, I am prompted as usual for a password.

Only now the password that I have entered time after time does not work. I
get a prompt saying the password is not correct and reminding me to check for
Caps Lock etc. This can't be so, as I have not changed the password, nor am I
making obvious mistakes. I've opened this important file so many times
before, it's not as if I've forgotten the password.

I am running Excel 2002 on XP at home, no one's had access to the file, it's
just a personal document, not something shared at work etc.

Everything was working fine when I last opened the file on Saturday. In
between, on Sunday, I have downloaded some Office updates and installed
Norton Internet security. Now the password doesn't work any more. Otherwise
Excel is functioning normally.

Any help from more experienced users would be welcome.

 

[Mike H]

Hi,

I've no real idea why your password would fail to work if you haven't
changed it but there you are and you need to open your file. Despite what
some would tell you there isn't too much freeware out there for this type of
password, freeware is manly limited to worksheet and workbook passwords which
is fairly flimsy.

So you probably need to go commercial and the one I use can be found at

http://www.lostpassword.com/excel.htm

Mike

 

[CLR]

You might try a System Restore to go back to where you could open the file.....

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[JB]

Thanks for the suggestions. The system restore didn't work, I'd done that.

In the end, I have a back up external hard disk, got a neighbour's laptop,
and connected the two. The backed up document opened with the normal password
and I've since recovered the file to my PC.

Why I lost the password for the Excel workbook was corrupted/changed though
is beyond me. Like I say, in between I installed Norton and some Windows
updates.

 

[CLR]

Dunno, sometimes the Dragon wins............I got some of those friendly
neighborhood automatic updates the other day and it drove my computer
nuts......I did a Restore and all went well.....don't know if the updates
caused it or just a coincidence.........but at any rate, no more automatic
updates for me.

Thanks for the feedback......and Glory Be to theimportance of backups.........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

 

[nirav]

Try this VBA:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
'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