Access Database question

[KeithTalent]

We have an Access database at work which brings up information for people making products on our production line (specifications, steps involved, etc). So they enter the product and everything they need comes up so they can make the product. Unfortunately the database was created in Access by someone a few years back who know longer works for us (retired), but who also does not remember the password (we have been on the phone with him going through every password he could possibly think of, to no avail) and we need to update the specs on a whole bunch of our products and add new ones.

Does anyone know of a workaround for this? I'm not necessarily talking about breaking the password, but even a way to copy things over, or whatever. I Googled and it looks like we could be screwed and may need to start from scratch, but I told my work peeps that I know of some smart individuals online who might have some suggestions for us. Anyone had experience with something like this?

T.I.A.!

KT

 

[lxskllr]

Might be easy. See this...

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8764264/access-mdb-password-recovery

I think you'll be cracking the password one way or another. A quick search finds many paid solutions(do they work?!). A bit more searching may find some libre software that can do it. Perhaps Kali linux? Debian removed virtualbox from the repositories, and I haven't gotten around to replacing it, or I'd spin up some of my tools to see if anything looked interesting.

 

[Elixer]

If the database is read only, then it would seem simple enough to copy / export everything in it to another database... or am I missing something here?

 

[brianmanahan]

 

[ultimatebob]

It was the 90's, man. We were all young and stupid back then.

You're not the only person who's done this, though, and there are various .mdb password cracking tools out there.

 

[brianmanahan]

It was the 90's, man. We were all young and stupid back then.

You're not the only person who's done this, though, and there are various .mdb password cracking tools out there.

agreed, MDB password crack is probably the best approach. i don't think their strength was very good at all back in early version of access.

 

[Crono]

Crack that sucka like it owes you bitcoin

 

[NoTine42]

Try holding the shift key while launching Access to “unlock” designer mode.

 

[KeithTalent]

Might be easy. See this...

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8764264/access-mdb-password-recovery

I think you'll be cracking the password one way or another. A quick search finds many paid solutions(do they work?!). A bit more searching may find some libre software that can do it. Perhaps Kali linux? Debian removed virtualbox from the repositories, and I haven't gotten around to replacing it, or I'd spin up some of my tools to see if anything looked interesting.

Well that doesn't sound too easy to me, but I don't really know much of anything about Access. I'm hesitant to use any sort of paid service since the info in the database is proprietary and I can't have it getting out to just anyone.

If the database is read only, then it would seem simple enough to copy / export everything in it to another database... or am I missing something here?

Not sure. I haven't actually played with it yet. I don't think I can actually just copy the protected data though.

agreed, MDB password crack is probably the best approach. i don't think their strength was very good at all back in early version of access.

I'll look into it. I assume I'll need to install something for that...

Try holding the shift key while launching Access to “unlock” designer mode.

Oh man, I sure hope this works. Thanks for the tip.

KT

 

[Iron Woode]

not sure but what about this:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/office/Free-MDB-Password-Recovery-aa427fbc

here, too:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Recover-MDB-Password-to-bfb83c04

 

[DaveSimmons]

Try holding the shift key while launching Access to “unlock” designer mode.

FYI, the LEFT shift key. Hold it down, right-click on MDB in Windows Explorer, choose OPEN, keep holding shift until after the window opens.

 

[KeithTalent]

Hmm thanks for that. Will give them a shot; that one you linked Iron Woode looks pretty legit.

KT

 

[Scarpozzi]

I remember in maybe 2007 my former employer had a department that was using a product that was written on Access 2.0. It was installed on a Novell-mapped network drive so everyone in the department could access it.... Due to op-locks and Microsoft silliness, it would go corrupt about once or twice a year and would need to be restored from a tape backup.

I recommend moving away from Access if you can. Get a copy of mySQL or MariaDB or something else and see if you can move it or pay someone to move it to make it a web system. It shouldn't take much to do, but will make it available in the future if you have issues. sql dumps are a great way to do a one cron command copy of the database into a file where it can easily be captured in backups....or you could even store the flat file in the cloud somewhere for a rainy day.