Security problem with Admin password

[Malcolmn]

I have a application (Access 2003 format) but developed on 2007, which runs
fine on my machine (development) and I added the names for the Users along
with a password on the administrator, me, in the Users & Permissions. It was
not until I transferred the application to a second machine that I realised
that the security controls relate to the environment i.e. all DB applications
on the machine not the specific DB. That is not a major issue but in this
process, It's a Laptop with different Keyboard layout, I managed to change
the administrator password to something I know not what and I can no longer
gain admin access to anything!! I have tried replacing the Security.mdw file,
no difference. I even uninstalled Access and re-installed no change. Can
anyone tell me how to remove the security control and replace it. I am not
normally this daft, but was distracted at the time by showing the application
to the potential users!!
HELP PLease!!

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

Only the db is secured, not all dbs. It depends on which workgroup you're
joined to. If you're joined to a workgroup where the admin user has a
password, you'll be prompted for user name and password every time you open
*any* db file.

The best way to deal with it is to join the default workgroup, system.mdw, so
you won't be prompted for user name and password. When you want to open a
secured db, you use a shortcut that joins you to the secure workgroup for the
session while the secure db file is open. The shortcut's target is like this:


"path to msaccess.exe" "path to mdb" /wrkgrp "path to secure.mdw"

If you used the security wizard to secure the db and opted to save a backup,
look for the db name with a .bak extension in the same folder as your db. If
your db's name is database.mdb, then look for database.bak.

If you don't have the backup but still have the secure workgroup file and
you're a good Googler, you can find free tools. If you're not a good Googler,
you can find tools that don't cost too much.

Chris

 

[Malcolmn]

Chris,

Yes thanks, I recovered everything on my desktop OK using the .BAK no
problem. The issue is with the Laptop, where For some reason the Password has
got "messed up". I thought if I could find teh "secure.mdw" file I could
simply replace it with the original from my desktop, but that appears not to
work!! The only "secure" file I can find is in my trusted location, which
happens to be "Access DB" in Documents. However, I will follow you
recommendations and hope that solves it.

Thanks

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

I call it "secure.mdw" to identify it as different from the default system.
mdw workgroup file, but you named it whatever you wanted when you created
your secure workgroup.

You can use the workgroup administrator to see which workgroup you're joined
to on the laptop (unless you use the shortcut trick I described to open the
db). That will give you the path and file name of your secure mdw file on
your laptop.

Chris

Yes thanks, I recovered everything on my desktop OK using the .BAK no
problem. The issue is with the Laptop, where For some reason the Password has
got "messed up". I thought if I could find teh "secure.mdw" file I could
simply replace it with the original from my desktop, but that appears not to
work!! The only "secure" file I can find is in my trusted location, which
happens to be "Access DB" in Documents. However, I will follow you
recommendations and hope that solves it.

Thanks

Only the db is secured, not all dbs. It depends on which workgroup you're
joined to. If you're joined to a workgroup where the admin user has a

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