Lost all permissions/ownership of a databasehelp please

[Guest]

One of my customers has lost all access to a database file. NTFS permissions
are set so they can take ownership, however when opening the database, they
and I are unable to open anything.
error receieved is: Could not read definitions; no read definitions
permission for table or query.
If I look under tools, security, user and group security, change owner, all
of the objects have "<Unknown>" in the current owner volume. Also, under
permissions, all objects are void of any permission setting for the admin
user. (no other users in the database).
Apparently this happenned during a software patch update a couple weeks ago.
No backup was kept. This was on a windows 2000 pc with office 2000 pro.
Is there some sort of tool I can use to recover the data from this database?

 

[Joseph Meehan]

One of my customers has lost all access to a database file. NTFS
permissions are set so they can take ownership, however when opening
the database, they and I are unable to open anything.
error receieved is: Could not read definitions; no read definitions
permission for table or query.
If I look under tools, security, user and group security, change
owner, all of the objects have "<Unknown>" in the current owner
volume. Also, under permissions, all objects are void of any
permission setting for the admin user. (no other users in the
database).
Apparently this happenned during a software patch update a couple
weeks ago. No backup was kept. This was on a windows 2000 pc with
office 2000 pro.
Is there some sort of tool I can use to recover the data from this
database?

Let's start with the obvious. Always make backups.

In this case it would appear the workgroup file may be corrupted or
missing or somehow the user information is not getting to that file. I
would first make sure the workgroup file is there.

 

[Guest]

Let's start with the obvious. Always make backups.

In this case it would appear the workgroup file may be corrupted or
missing or somehow the user information is not getting to that file. I
would first make sure the workgroup file is there.

ok, where is the workgroup file? I've tried copying this onto another
computer from it's default location (D:\my documents) and open it using a
fresh install of access.
there was a file next to this one called system.mda that has some odd text
in the table. I copied this file also, but still no luck.
unable to repair the database because i don't have permission to breath on
it :/

 

[Joseph Meehan]

ok, where is the workgroup file? I've tried copying this onto another
computer from it's default location (D:\my documents) and open it
using a fresh install of access.
there was a file next to this one called system.mda that has some odd
text in the table. I copied this file also, but still no luck.
unable to repair the database because i don't have permission to
breath on it :/

I suggest that Access has a good help file and a lot of information
about workgroup files. Try searching the help file (press F1 while in
Access) and search for "workgroup file"

I suggest also reading
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];207793

Access security is a great feature, but it is, by nature a complex product
with a very steep learning curve. Properly used it offers very safe
versatile protection and control. However a simple mistake can lock
everyone including God out.

Practice on some copies to make sure you know what you are doing.