Converting data from an MDE

[Dave]

I am converting data from one Access app to another. The legacy app is an
MDE. A contractor developed a utility (in Access) to convert the data into
the required table structures of the new app. This utility contains linked
tables to the MDE to source the data. He was able to use this just fine to
convert the data. Now that he is gone I need to support this. Every time I
try to use it I get the below error. I assume this has something to do with
the MDE security but don't know how to get through this hurdle.

Error msg:
You do not have the necessary permissions to use the 'C:\...' object. Have
your system administrator or the person who created this object establish the
appropriate permissions for you.

Thanks in advance,
Dave