Accessing Locked Access DBs 1

[nmtexman]

We are currently in the middle of converting 16-bit Access .mdb's to Access 2000. We have come across several databases where the administrator's have moved on to new positions and no one can access them to upgrade them to A2K. Does anyone know of any methods where we can circumvent the security and get information out of these databases?

 

[nickjar2]

R they password protected or secured?

Nick

 

[nmtexman]

We have access to the directory where the databases are stored. We are set up in the WorkGroups for those databases. We cannot even look at the databases. We have not been asked for passwords. Security seems to be at NT level and DB level.

 

[nickjar2]

What message do you get? Something like 'You do not have the permissions..'

Nick

 

[Maquis]

Are you able to open and use the databases like a normal user would? Is the problem just that you cannot see the "design view" of the database?

If so, heres a few ideas to try:

1. "Shift into" the database (hold down shift key while opening database).

2. Hit F11 while in the database

3. Right click on a form and choose design view from the pop-up menu.

4. Hmmm, if none of the above worked then your former administrator locked it down pretty tight. Possibly, you could create a new blank db and import all the tables, queries, forms, etc into the new db. (Don't forget about any import/export specs!)

5. Start writing VB scripts to enable the above options that your wonderful, thoughtful administrator disabled.

6. Set up a dartboard in your office with the administrator's picture on it. (Hey, it'll at least make you feel better)

Maq B-)
<insert witty signature here>

 

[nmtexman]

When we attempt to open the databases, we get the &quot;You do not have permission to open this database&quot; message. Our superuser has granted us all the permissions she can, but still no luck. Since we can't even open them, we can't look at the forms. We have tried renaming copies to the notepad path but since it these are full-blown databases with tables, forms and queries, that doesn't help much. We have tried writing ASP queries to access, but still no luck.

 

[Lightning]

Basic question:

Have you tried using the Workgroup Administrator (C:\WinNT\System32\wrkgadm.exe) to join the workgroup, and then open a new, blank database and import all the objects from your existing database?

 

[UncleJack]

If you can't bypass the startup commands by holding the shift key then you probably have databases secured by user level security. This is near to impossible to break.

You might look to see if there are any shortcuts that were set up by the person who was running these databases to see if a workgroup and/or password was set in the startup command string. A person would normally reference both the workgroup and a password in the shortcut command line when opening an Access 2 database. At least you might be able to discover the name of the workgroup used to secure the databases. If you're ever able to get into the database in design mode then export all the database objects to a new file. This will remove the security from them and they can then be imported into A97 or A2K and converted to 32 bit.


Uncle Jack

 

[Maquis]

Can anyone get to these databases?

If yes, then have that person (or login yourself as that person) try some of the tricks I mentioned earlier.

If no, then obviously nobody is using these things. How important could they be? Maq B-)
<insert witty signature here>

 

[nmtexman]

Thanks for all the help on this one. We finally decided to disconnect the table from any forms, etc. So far, no one has missed it.