Forgotten Password

[Racing Ka]

I was wondering if anyone could help.

I locked a sheet to stop people editing certain parts and I have gone and misplaced the password. Is there anyway I can find out what I used to lock it so I can unlock it?

Thanks in advance.

Jamie

[robert111]

I sent a locked spreadsheet to a friend in USA and he returned it in less than a minute with password details. So there is software around. Before that I had paid $10 for a cracker that tries all permutations, it would take 100's of years for a long password, so don't go there...

[dominicb]

Good afternoon Racing Ka

Download and install my add-in via the link below.
Once installed go to Ultimate > Protection > Remove Protection.

Should take less than a minute, it's free and the help file explains exactly how it works!

HTH

DominicB

[wmorrison49]

I had the same problem and this add-in is sweet. Thanks man!

[stevekirk]

hi,

what happens if the worksheet is protected and was to stay protected could this add in let the user in

does this also apply to the macros that are protected

steve

[dominicb]

Hi stevekirk

The add-in removes worksheet / workbook protection due to a substantial weakness in the protection routine, the knowledge of which has been in the public domain since Excel 97, but Microsoft chose not to address until Excel 2007. Microsoft's line is that the protection is there not to stop people changing the spreadsheet without authorisation, but to stop accidental erasure of formulae.

Macro protection is a little trickier but can be still be removed relatively quickly (my tool of choice for this is a hex editor), and the protection whereby a password is required to open Excel is trickier still - but not impossible. Just type "Excel password cracker" into Google to see...

DominicB

[wmorrison49]

I just tried to use the remove protection command again and I can't get it to work anymore. Is there a trick that I unknowingly did the first time? Any little quirks that you have to do or the order of anything? The box that has Close/Start isn't popping up anymore.

[dominicb]

Hi wmorrison49

Any little quirks that you have to do or the order of anything?

No quirks or anything tricky. I've never come across this or had it reported as an issue. Usual kind of advice applies - restart Excel and try running it. If this doesn't do the trick try reinstalling from the setup file and making sure that the add-in is invoked properly.

HTH

DominicB

[DCatboone]

I don't see a link for the add in, i'm having the same problem, not sure if that would still work 16 years later..

[Glenn Kennedy]

Kindly read rule 6.

Thread closed.