Microsoft KB Archive/162089

= "Can't encrypt database" error message is misleading in Access 97 =

Article ID: 162089

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q162089



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



SUMMARY
When you try to encrypt a database, you may receive the following error message:

You can't encrypt a database that you didn't create or don't own. See the owner of the database or your workgroup administrator.

This message is incomplete. It should also include being a member of the Admins group of the system database that was in use when the database was created as a requirement for encrypting the database.



MORE INFORMATION
The requirements for encrypting a database are as follows:

Microsoft Access requires that one of the following be true for the person trying to encrypt a database:
 * The person is the owner of the database.
 * The person is the creator of the database.
 * The person is a member of the Admins group in the workgroup (the default name is system.mdw) that was in use when the database was created.

Note Encrypting a database compacts the database file and makes it unreadable by a utility program or word processor. It is used to prevent someone using a file or disk editor from reading or writing data directly to an .MDB file, bypassing the Microsoft Jet database engine.

Additional query words: You can t encrypt a database that you didn t create or don t own

Keywords: kberrmsg KB162089

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