How do I turn off an .mdw file? 1

[OhioSteve]

A coworker was working on a user's laptop this morning. He accidentally turned on the built-in security features in Access. Access created an .mdw file, and associated it with all of the user's databases. Now when the user attempts to interact with his databases, Access asks him for the Admin password. I believe that the default password for Admin is "Admin". I tried that and Access rejects it. So apparently my coworker changed it. Unfortunately my coworker is gone for the day.

How do I tell access to STOP using the security features? I found the .mdw file on the user's hard drive. Should I just delete it?

 

[OhioSteve]

Update: My coworker says that it was activated before he got the laptop. I want to install an Access DB on this user's laptop. Could I somehow exempt me db from the .mdw?

 

[JerryKlmns]

OhioSteve
Press Ctrl+G and paste this

?CurrentProject.Connection.Properties("Jet OLEDB:System database")

You 'll get the full name of the security information file currently in use.

For the default user Admin the default password is not set, just press ENTER.

There must be a System.mdw file in the same location where MSAccess.exe resides. Seek that and depending on your Version: Use the Workgroup Administrator, browse for the default System.mdw file and join. From now on you don't have any security.

If you need to open different databases using a different mdw file, create a shortcut for each one like this

"C:\FullPathTo\MSACCESS.EXE" /wrkgrp "\\Server\Path\YouDBase.mdw" "\\Server\Path\YouDBase.mdb"

 

[easyit]

Hi,

The password cannot be empty, so enter won't work. This is because the security features (the prompt for a login) are always present, but get activated when the Admin password is set.

If you can get into the DB, then simply clearing the password would disable the login prompt.

Access didn't create a MDW, there is always one present. If you delete the system.mdw, a new one will be created when starting access. This would also delete any security settings made (rights to database objects etc.). You could do this as well to make a fresh start.

However, be careful. If the security is set to certain databases, deleting the system.mdw will also prevent you from opening these db's. better safe then sorry, so make backups!

EasyIT


EasyIT

"Do you think that’s air you're breathing?

 

[JerryKlmns]

Well EasyIT you are correct about the password!

I'll go get my coffee bucket now...

 

[OhioSteve]

Okay, I have done some reading and thinking. I have learned how to create my OWN .mdw file for my database. When I install my database, I will also install my .mdw. Then my database will not try to interact with other .mdw files...and I will not need to guess at passwords other developers may have set.

I have tested my solution and it works great EXCEPT for one problem. When I click the shortcut I get challenged for my password. How do I include the password in the shortcut? For my test, the user is "myUser" and the password is "myPassword". How do I put that into this shortcut:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\folderA\databaseA.mdb" /WRKGRP "C:\folderA\Security.mdw"

 

[PHV]

/PWD yourPassword

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[PHV]

OOps, hit submit too fast :~/
/USER myUser /PWD myPassword

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[OhioSteve]

I found the answer to my question at

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/209207/EN-US/

That's a good knowledge base file. Check it out.

 

[OhioSteve]

Wow! That was a fast answer PHV. You answered while I was reading the knowledge base article. I will give you a retroactive star