Always asked to login, and I can't!

[Guest]

Hi all,

I'm using the MS Access 2007 trial while I wait for our Microsoft Partner
version to arrive. I am running Vista Home Premium. When I initially
installed Office, I could open DB files with Access easily, but since last
week I have the following problem...

Every time I open a database (old MDB type) or try to create a new database
(new type), I get asked for a username and password. No matter what I enter
(including nothing for DBs that shouldn't have a username and password!)
Access insists that I have entered an invalid u/p combination. This includes
database files that I previously opened with no problems.

The default username given is "Admin" and I try to use this with a blank
password.

VBA apps and other custom software are still able to open the files. (Using
correct u/p combinations.)

I have recently renamed the Windows user that I am using to run Access, but
surely that doesn't make a difference? (I made this change long before I
encountered this problem.) I have tried running msaccess.exe in Administrator
mode, the same problem occurs. I have changed the security settings on the DB
files I am trying to open to give all users Full Access, but the problem
still occurs.

Any ideas on what else I can try?

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, David.

Every time I open a database (old MDB type) or try to create a new
database
(new type), I get asked for a username and password.

You are currently joined to a workgroup where the default Admin user has a
password set. This is known as a "secure" workgroup.

The default username given is "Admin" and I try to use this with a blank
password.

The default Admin user most definitely has a password, so you must supply it
if you want to open or create a database file.

I have recently renamed the Windows user that I am using to run Access,
but
surely that doesn't make a difference?

No. If one joins a workgroup where the default Admin user has a password
set, then this will ensure that the user gets prompted for the User ID and
password when opening or creating a database file.

Any ideas on what else I can try?

Find a workgroup file that isn't secured and join it, or else remove the
password from the default Admin user of the current workgroup. The default
workgroup, System.MDW, is unsecured, so I'd recommend finding and joining
that one unless, of course, you intentionally secured it by assigning a
password to the default Admin user in the default workgroup on your own
workstation.

For the recommended method of opening databases when some databases are
secured and some are not, please see the tip, "How to open databases and
only be prompted for User ID and password for the secure databases," on the
following Web page:

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/security.html

Of course, you have Access 2007, so use the built-in Workgroup
Administrator, not the separate WRKGADM.Exe file, to join another workgroup.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Guest]

Hi Gunny,

Thanks for all the info.

You are currently joined to a workgroup where the default Admin user has a
password set. This is known as a "secure" workgroup.

Unfortunately I haven't had much exposure to Access so I'm still coming to
grips with the idea of a workgroup. My reading at your link and at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA101662271033.aspx suggests that a
workgroup is something managed by old Access (pre-2007), and has nothing to
do with the workgroup a computer belongs to. Is this correct? (Just checking!)

I'm working on a single workstation connected to a simple home network for
internet access. I have not installed Office 2003 or earlier on this machine,
only Office 2007. I remembered that I have also recently installed Project
2007 (also a trial while I wait for the CDs

Thus, I have searched and found no workgroup files, nor the 2003 workgroup
manager program, nor any registry entries relating to workgroups.

Of course, you have Access 2007, so use the built-in Workgroup
Administrator, not the separate WRKGADM.Exe file, to join another workgroup.

How can I get to the Workgroup Administrator seeing as I can't open a
database? When I open Access I only get the options to open a template,
create a blank database (which I can't do, as outlined in my original post),
and open an existing database.

Thanks again for your help!

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, David.

and has nothing to
do with the workgroup a computer belongs to. Is this correct?

Correct. The workgroup a computer belongs to is the Windows Workgroup for
networking computers (instead of a Windows network domain, which requires a
Windows server as the domain controller, not a peer-to-peer network used in
Windows Workgroups). That's totally different from the Access Workgroup
Information File (*.MDW), which contains the User-Level Security information
for an Access workgroup.

Thus, I have searched and found no workgroup files

Ensure that you have "view file extensions" enabled, and "check system and
hidden files" marked when searching for System.MDW. It's installed by
default in C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access in Windows XP. Most likely, you've added a password
to the default Admin user in the default workgroup, so you may only need to
remove the default Admin user's password, not join another workgroup.

When I open Access I only get the options to open a template,
create a blank database (which I can't do, as outlined in my original
post),
and open an existing database.

From your original post, "VBA apps and other custom software are still able
to open the files. (Using correct u/p combinations.)" so you can open one of
the database files that way. Once you've opened a database file, press
<CTRL><G> to open the Immediate Window and paste the following into it:

RunCommand acCmdWorkgroupAdministrator

.. . . and then press <ENTER> to execute the command. Select the "Join"
button to navigate to, and join, the default System.MDW if you're not
already joined to it.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.