password lockout

[DaveMere]

Hi guys.

One of my users appears to have locked herself out of Access whlist attempting to implement security. She's unsure as to exactly what she did (ie whether it's workgroup or simple password security) but the resulting situation is as follows;

Opening any Access database, prompts for a password.
Opening any new database prompt for a password.
Wrkgadm.exe lists her current workgroup as default.

So; if this is just simple password security, why is it prompting for a password upon opening any otherdatabase? If on the other hand it is workgroup security, why is her current workgroup listed as default?

Any suggestion on how to progress would be appreciated!



DaveMere

 

[meboz]

When she 'inadvertantly' ran access security she changed the system.mdw security file to which she was joined. Assuming she didn't adjust any permissions on the db, follow the instructions.

Steps to resolve the problem...

1. Find the system.mdw file (which has been changed)
2. Delete it
3. Open/Create a blank database (this will create a new unsecured system.mdw)

4. Avoid playing with access security cos its a pain in the back end!

 

[ghudson]

Steps to screw up your PC...

1. Find the system.mdw file (which has been changed)
2. Delete it
3. Open/Create a blank database (this will create a new unsecured system.mdw)
4. Avoid playing with access security cos its a pain in the back end!

I advise that you do not delete the 'system.mdw' file since Access modified the file when you messed with the security wizard. Access will not start if the 'system.mdw' file can not be found. ALL access databases are secured. The default workgroup is ADMIN. I believe that the wizard should have created a backup of the original workgroup file. Search the hard drive for all file extensions *.mdw You need to restore the original 'system.mdw' file back in the Windows\System directory. You will also have to rejoin the PC back to the default 'system.mdw' file.

Search the forum for 'system.mdw' and you will find a ton of posts from the other members who played with the security wizard without understanding how to use it and for what it does to your PC.

Good luck!

 

[meboz]

I dont want to get into an arguement, this is for the good of everyone.

I learnt user-level security basically through making ALOT of mistakes and I know for a fact that when you delete the system.mdw file, Access will still start, and it just creates a new one, and joins you to it.

Ive done this many times trying to get user-level security correct.

 

[ghudson]

When I saw your suggestion I had to try it since I have never heard it before. I renamed my 'system.mdw' file [for which my computer is joined to] and tried to just open Access [not a particular db]. I received the error message "Microsoft Access couldn't find file 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\system.mdw". This file is required for startup."

Maybe there is a version difference but I am using Access 97 with Windows XP. Are you sure that your computer is joined to the system.mdw file located @ C:\windows\system32\system.mdw [for a Windows XP computer]? It would make since that you could delete the workgroup system.mdw file if the computer is not joined to it. Many people make the mistake and join their computer to their custom workgroup files. They should use a custom shortcut to open their secured db's. The computer should always be joined to the system.mdw file and the system.mdw file should never be altered with custom security settings.

 

[meboz]

your right ghudson...

I have never dealt with access security in access before 2000. It seems that they have made a few changes (for the better)

In 2000 and later you are able to do as i suggested.

Access 2000 doesnt have the Workgroup Administrator option in the security menu that you can create your custom .mdw file, which should be the first step in the security process.

 

[ghudson]

FYI:

I just search my Access 2003 PC and I found the Work Group Admin file in the normal location @ C:\WINDOWS\system32\wrkgadm.exe which is running Windows XP.