I'm facing a tricky situation where I need to access an Access database that was maintained by an employee who has unfortunately passed away. The employee had no documentation on how to manage it, and I'm currently unable to open the file. Although there's no password on the file itself, when I try to open it using the former employee's user account, I'm prompted for a password. This seems to indicate that it could be an outdated password cached in the database. I've attempted to recover the password using Passware Kit Forensics, which didn't uncover anything, and Thegrideon Access Password, which identified user IDs but didn't help with the password. Has anyone dealt with a similar issue with old Access databases? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I'm quite stuck.
5 Answers
You might have some luck with older versions of Access – they can sometimes be cracked fairly easily. How old is the database you’re working with?
You should screenshot the password prompt and share it. That might help pinpoint whether it’s an actual Access password prompt or something custom that needs a different approach.
Good idea! The type of prompt could really narrow down the solution.
I’ve had success with brute force tools on Access databases before, though it can take a while. Just make sure you’re prepared to let it run for a few days if needed.
Just to clarify – are you suggesting a dictionary attack or something more intense?
You might want to try holding down the shift key while opening the file. This can sometimes disable any startup macros that could be causing the password prompt, and it might allow you to see the code behind it. It’s a shot in the dark but worth a try!
Sounds like a solid plan! It could be some custom coding at play, especially if someone was using VBA for custom prompts.
Right? I’m not overly optimistic about it working, but it’s definitely worth a try. Sometimes you have to throw everything at it!
You could create a new, blank Access file and try importing the data from the one you’re having issues with. Access security usually isn’t that strong; this might just work!
Exactly! If that doesn't work, it might be worth considering if you even need to salvage this database. Sometimes starting fresh is the best choice.
Are any versions of Access really that recent? Just curious.