Forgotten password and reloading Access

[rob c]

I have created a database on my computer at work using Access 2003. I forgot
the Admin password. I can load the same database onto another computer and
I am able to enter as the Admin without using a password.

I've seen postings that talik about changing the system.mdw, but would like
to get a questioned answered before I try anything.

I only have the one database on my computer and was wondering what impact
there would be on the Admin password if the IT department were to reload
access onto my computer.

Thank you

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have created a database on my computer at work using Access 2003. I
forgot the Admin password. I can load the same database onto another
computer and I am able to enter as the Admin without using a password.

Then it was never secured properly.

I've seen postings that talik about changing the system.mdw, but would
like to get a questioned answered before I try anything.

I only have the one database on my computer and was wondering what
impact there would be on the Admin password if the IT department were to
reload access onto my computer.

The issue is that your windows login account on that PC has been
configured to use an MDW file that requires a password as its default MDW
file. That setting is stored in the registry and will not be changed by
re-installing Access.

Just change your default workgroup back to System.MDW and see if you can
open the file without being prompted. If you discover that what you
actually did was apply a password to the admin user of System.MDW, then
try changing the name of that file to something else. Access should
create a new copy of System.MDW when it cannot find the one you renamed.
If that resolves the problem then you should be able to delete the
renamed file.

Note that it is possible that you have other files that are properly
secured with that MDW file and you will be forever locked out of those
unless you can remember the password or obtain tools/services to break
the security.

 

[rob c]

Rick,

thanks for the advice. I tried to change back to the default workgroup, but
was already there. I created a new workgroup and have admin access.
Everything seems to be working.

Is using a differerent workgroup going to cause problems if this database is
loaded to a server for others to use?