Microsoft KB Archive/162979

= ACC: "Not a Valid Password" Error When Database Password Contains "\" =

Article ID: 162979

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q162979



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



SYMPTOMS
When you try to open a database for which you have set a database password, and you are sure that you have typed the correct password in the Password Required dialog box, you may still receive the following error message

Not a valid password

and you cannot open the database.



CAUSE
Your database password contains a backslash character (\).



RESOLUTION
To open your database, type two backslash characters (\\) instead of one in the Password Required dialog box. For example, if your database password is pass\word, type pass\\word.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access 2000.



MORE INFORMATION
If you want to remove the database password that contains a backslash and add a new database password, follow these steps:


 * 1) Start Microsoft Access and double-click More Files in the starting dialog box.
 * 2) In the Open dialog box, select your database, click the Exclusive check box, and then click Open.
 * 3) On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Unset Database Password.
 * 4) In the Unset Database Password dialog box, type the password that you want to unset, and then click OK. Your old password is removed.
 * 5) On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set Database Password.
 * 6) In the Set Database Password dialog box, type your new password in the Password and Verify boxes, and then click OK.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

 * 1) Create a new database.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set Database Password.
 * 3) In the Set Database Password dialog box, type pass\word in the Password and Verify boxes, and then click OK.
 * 4) Close the database and try to reopen it.
 * 5) Type pass\word in the Password Required dialog box. Note that you receive the "Not a valid password" error message.
 * 6) Type pass\\word in the Password Required dialog box. Note that your database opens.

