Not new to Access, but I have never dealt with security as of yet, and the current issue I have come up against is:- someone has created a database with security and everything was well, until someone else decided the server needed more space and deleted the .mdv file.

I have been asked if there is anyway of getting the data/saving the database – The creator still knows the admin password (no idea if that is part of the mdv file or not – as I said new to security/mdv). Someone in our networking team recalls doing this about 4 years ago, and needing to hold down keys and needing the original password etc...any help would be appreciated....

You mean holding down the shift key when the db is opened?
If there was an mdw file, then it was probably secured with User level security.
If they still know the user name and password, it might be possible to recreate the mdw file. Do a search on it - this has happened to lots of other people too!

when you create an mdw, you enter a security key - i think you have to have that security key to recreate the mdw file - just recreating an mdw with the same name isnt enough. And you wont get in the database without the mdw file.

Access user security help describes recording these security keys and keeping them in a safe I think! At least you need backup copies.

i dont know whether any database rescue firm can help.