How to Open Access Database in Admin Mode
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When I try to open a specific database in either Access 2003, 2010 or 2016 I get the following message:
The current user account doesn't have permission to convert or enable this database.
And I need it working pretty urgently as a we have a program that is partially malfunctioning and we suspect its the database but can't check nor access it due to the error above. I have tried making a new database and importing the old one, but I still get the same error.
So is there anyone out there that happens to have the golden ticket or the clue that gets me going again??
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23 Replies
Do you have backups that you can try to access, and see if that works?
It doesn't. If i try to open them I get the same error and importing them fails with errors along the lines of that I don't have access.
Log in as an admin?
Are there permission settings that you can look at?
login as admin where?. On the PC or?. I don't think that works, the database has been made in Access 95 so I am trying to locate that someway
Can you log into any other Access databases? Then check your permissions that you have on this account?
browse to the database. select the database. hold down shift and open the database. Does that let you in?
Can you post a screen capture of the error? It would help in narrowing down what is throwing the message, Winders or Access.
When you open a file that is in an older version format (like opening a Access 2003 file with Access 2010), it will try to convert. HOWEVER, if the file has been secured where permissions has been removed for the default Admin account (which is the default account when you aren't logging in), then you'll get this error.
You need the system.mdw file that the file was created/maintained with (it has the accounts in it). You then need to open the file with the following command line:
<Path to Access> <File to Open> /WRKGRP "C:\Windows\System32\Security.mdw"
It will prompt you for the login, you'll need to log in with the account that has administrative rights on the file (I always had a "developer" account that I used for this).
To manage the file (the accounts in it), you'll need the wrkgadm.exe program that was with the original file (no longer used in current Access versions). You'll be good once you convert the file (make sure you have a copy of it before you convert because often conversion will break it).
Are you accessing the db via a shortcut?
Does the shortcut reference the MDW security file
You might want to see about getting the Access 95 runtime... at least it should let you open it then you might be able to enable for use in later versions or export the data
See this link for how to convert Access 95 dbs
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1196546-convert-old-access-database-without-an-old-copy-of-ac...
You can also try to import it using Excel
Open a new worksheet Go to Data tab Click on "From Access" menu item Select the database's .mdb file In the "Data Link Properties" box that opens, switch to the "Provider" tab Select the "Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider" Click on Next Reselect the database's .mdb file (it forgets it when you change Provider) Click OK From the Select Table dialogue that appears, choose the table you want to import.
Backup the db first - make a copy
Once you have access to the data upgrade
Search the folder where the db is for a file like whateverthenameoftheaccessdbis.mdw
SQLRage wrote:
Can you log into any other Access databases? Then check your permissions that you have on this account?
Other access databases open fine, but those are also our own and not "locked" to specific programs use.
BrowncoatSGT wrote:
browse to the database. select the database. hold down shift and open the database. Does that let you in?
Can you post a screen capture of the error? It would help in narrowing down what is throwing the message, Winders or Access.
If I hold down shift nothing changes, it still throws:
michaelmac wrote:
When you open a file that is in an older version format (like opening a Access 2003 file with Access 2010), it will try to convert. HOWEVER, if the file has been secured where permissions has been removed for the default Admin account (which is the default account when you aren't logging in), then you'll get this error.
You need the system.mdw file that the file was created/maintained with (it has the accounts in it). You then need to open the file with the following command line:
<Path to Access> <File to Open> /WRKGRP "C:\Windows\System32\Security.mdw"
It will prompt you for the login, you'll need to log in with the account that has administrative rights on the file (I always had a "developer" account that I used for this).
To manage the file (the accounts in it), you'll need the wrkgadm.exe program that was with the original file (no longer used in current Access versions). You'll be good once you convert the file (make sure you have a copy of it before you convert because often conversion will break it).
How am I supposed to login in when I don't have the login details and the company that made the file has gone out of business, which is the greater of my headaches. I have both the database and the mdw file but no chance in h*ll to figure out what the correct username and password is.
TOODAMAX wrote:
Are you accessing the db via a shortcut?
Does the shortcut reference the MDW security file
You might want to see about getting the Access 95 runtime... at least it should let you open it then you might be able to enable for use in later versions or export the data
See this link for how to convert Access 95 dbs
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1196546-convert-old-access-database-without-an-old-copy-of-ac...
You can also try to import it using Excel
Open a new worksheet Go to Data tab Click on "From Access" menu item Select the database's .mdb file In the "Data Link Properties" box that opens, switch to the "Provider" tab Select the "Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider" Click on Next Reselect the database's .mdb file (it forgets it when you change Provider) Click OK From the Select Table dialogue that appears, choose the table you want to import.
And I just tried following the excel guide and it fails with a notice that I need to make sure I have access, to ask for acess etc so thats a dud as well. But I can see the tables in the file, but just not open it, import from it, convert it, nothing :(
If you've never had to login before, and you don't have credentials to have admin access to the file, then you'll have to open it with the original Access version that it was created in. I didn't realize it wasn't your Access file, it wasn't mentioned in the original post.
What was the original Access version? Do you know?
michaelmac wrote:
If you've never had to login before, and you don't have credentials to have admin access to the file, then you'll have to open it with the original Access version that it was created in. I didn't realize it wasn't your Access file, it wasn't mentioned in the original post.
What was the original Access version? Do you know?
Access95 it seems. And I can't seem to find a working Access 95 install anywhere :(
I have both the mdw and the mdb file, I just think I need Access 95, and where to get it I dont know
You should be able to open the Access file using the mdw file based on the command line I provided in my previous post.
<Path to Access> <File to Open> /WRKGRP "C:\Windows\System32\Security.mdw"
You'll have to login in, and then see if you can add administrative permissions to the user Admin.
michaelmac wrote:
You should be able to open the Access file using the mdw file based on the command line I provided in my previous post.
<Path to Access> <File to Open> /WRKGRP "C:\Windows\System32\Security.mdw"
You'll have to login in, and then see if you can add administrative permissions to the user Admin.
EDIT:
I found and installed Office 97 and I can open the Access file, and can now edit it etc. But not convert it
Not much you can do without any credentials. You can try giving the user Admin full rights. Admin is the default user when you open a file without logging in. If you installed Office 97, then you have the program wrkgadm.exe. It usually is in the system32 folder. Run it and see which system.mdw it's pointing to (it should be pointing to the mdw that came with the file you're trying to open).
Open the Access file that you're trying to access (with Shift pressed). If you can't open the file...then there's not much you can do. You need credentials. If you can open it then Go to Tools => Security => User and Group Permissions. In the left window, select the user Admin (top of the list). To the right, set Object Type to Database. Click the Administer checkbox and then OK. See if that works. If not, then try changing the owner (Click the "Change Owner" tab).
If you can't do any of that...then you're out of luck. There are some tools out there that will remove permissions and set them back to default for the Admin, but it's been years since I've messed with anything like that (doesn't work after Access 95).
If you can get to it, try to access it as a Linked table from Access 97, then you can have the data and recreate it just as it is
Then I would try to update it to a more recent version of Access
I have access 97 now and can access and edit the database, but the convert database function is greyed out so I can't convert to a newer version
Ok, try accessing the security functions. Open the file, click on the menu item Tools then select Security then select User and Group Permissions.
In the right box, select the user Admin. To the right, select "Object Type" as database. Make sure the Open/Run, Open Exclusive, and Administer boxes are all checked. Click OK. This will close the User and Group Permissions windows...get back in, we're going to do one more thing.
Try changing the owner to Admin. Click the "Change Owner" tab.
Select Object Type as Database. Select New Owner as Admin, and then click "Change Owner". I'm not sure if it will let you, but try it.
Even if this second part doesn't work, the first part should be good enough to allow you to convert. If you still have troubles, you may have to give yourself (Admin) permissions on all the tables, just select Object Type as tables and click all the boxes for all the tables.
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How to Open Access Database in Admin Mode
Source: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2048842-access-database-that-i-can-t-access
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