Security Wizard

[Guest]

So I went through the steps of doing the security thing, and I get this error.

Error 'an unexpected error occured while changing the owner of the database.
This problem can occure if you have (1) previously created the database
while logged on as one user, (2) previously used the Security Wizard in any
version of Access, and then (3) logged on as a different user to run the
Security Wizard at this time': The wizard can't complete successfully.

So I deleted the new system.mdw and the secured DB. Did the process over
again, and got the same error. So what did I do wrong? It might be that the
DB I used on the redo was still somehow secured, possibly. Suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[Joan Wild]

So I went through the steps of doing the security thing, and I get this error.

Error 'an unexpected error occured while changing the owner of the database.
This problem can occure if you have (1) previously created the database
while logged on as one user, (2) previously used the Security Wizard in any
version of Access, and then (3) logged on as a different user to run the
Security Wizard at this time': The wizard can't complete successfully.

So I deleted the new system.mdw and the secured DB. Did the process over
again, and got the same error. So what did I do wrong? It might be that the
DB I used on the redo was still somehow secured, possibly. Suggestions.

Well, that would do it, yes. I suggest you try the following:

Start, Search and find all *.mdw files on your computer.
Rename every one that you find. Don't delete them in case you need them.

Now open Access. It'll create a new unsecure mdw for you. Go to Tools, security, workgroup administrator and make a note of the path and name of this file.

Create a new mdb and import everything from the mdb you want to secure. This new mdb will be completely unsecure, with all objects owned by 'Admin'. Make a backup of this mdb (in case you need to go back to an unsecure copy). Now try and secure it.

 

[Guest]

Hello Joan & Freehall, it is Beverly again.

I tried the steps you recommended below, but I do not have a Workgroup
Administrator option in Tools>Security.
I tried to unsecure the database following the steps on your website as
well, but hit a deadend when I could not find the Tools>Security>Workgroup
Administrator option.
I am logging in as a user with Admin permissions using Access 2000 w/SP-3.

I would like to replace the SYSTEM.MDW file on my computer so that I can
open other ACCESS databases, but am unable to get ACCESS open following the
steps provided, b/c am told i need a SYSTEM.MDW to open a blank db. And if I
am in ACCESS w/out a db open, I only have the option for User & Group
Accounts and Encrypt/Decrypt the database.

I will start a new thread about adding additional users to the secured
database outside of the wizard.

I am singing the praises of Joan Wild to anyone in my office who sits still
long enough - Can you say 'rime of the ancient mariner?'

 

[Joan Wild]

Hi Beverly. I knew that Freehall was working with 2002 or 2003, so the instructions were directed to those versions. In 2000, the workgroup administrator is not in Access. To get to it in 2000 you must use
Start, Run and type
wrkgadm.exe
Also with 2000, you can't just rename/delete all existing mdw files. With the later versions, Access will create a new mdw if it can't find the one set as default. In earlier versions, you couldn't do this.

If you found system.mdw and renamed it, just rename it back to system.mdw and try and open Access.

If you deleted it, then can you locate system.mdw on someone else's computer (that has 2000 on it) and copy it from there to your computer? If so copy it into C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Access folder.