Microsoft KB Archive/243895

= ACC2000: Database Password Appears Even Though It Was Never Set =

Article ID: 243895

Article Last Modified on 1/26/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q243895





This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.



SYMPTOMS
When you open a Microsoft Access database (an .mdb file), you may see a password prompt, even though you never set a password on the database. Nothing that you enter allows you to pass by the password prompt.



CAUSE
This behavior can happen if you directly open a database in a non-Access application, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Notepad, and so on, and then save the database in that application. In some cases, the application that you use to open the database may automatically save a document after you open it, for example, a macro in Word.

The Microsoft Jet database engine is a distinct binary format. Opening your Access database directly in a non-Access application has no benefit because the data that you see is indecipherable. Also, saving the database in the non-Access application makes the file completely unusable to Access. You are unable to recover the data from, repair, or compact an Access database file that has been saved to any other format.

NOTE: Some macro viruses may cause applications to save documents automatically. Therefore, if your non-Access application contains such a virus, even though you may open the Access database and close it without saving, the database file is still saved in a non-Access format.



RESOLUTION
Do not try to open a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) in an application other than Microsoft Access. If you want to view your Access data in another application, try linking to it through ODBC or Office Links.



MORE INFORMATION
To use Office Links, on the Tools menu, click Office Links, and then click one of the commands. This causes a wizard to appear, and the wizard then guides you through the process.

For more information about using ODBC, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type odbc in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

