One more time, the point is someone has a password protected file and
asks this group how to remove the password protection. Several
people jump right in w/o ever asking if the OP has any right to the
file.

OK. Say someone asks if the OP had a right to the file. The OP replies
"yes, it's mine". Now what?

That's completely unacceptable.

Because...?? Are we obligated to ask questions that have no probative
value? Obligated by what or whom?

Anyone who password protects a file does so for a reason and someone
asking to breaking that protection is suspicious.

Assuming you meant "suspect", your syllogism is missing a premise. In
the *vast* majority of cases I've encountered, both in the newsgroups
and in my business, someone asking for help in removing protection has
a legitimate reason for doing so. That makes them in need of
assistance, not suspect.

If the OP had a right to the file, why didn't he ask the owner for the
password?

Assumption of facts not in evidence. Why do you *assume* the OP isn't
the owner?

Try reviewing the thread, the OP never ever stated any reason for wanting to
crack the file but some here just assumed he had a right to do so.

I can't vouch for anyone else, nor can I read their minds, but I didn't
assume anything one way or the other, because it doesn't matter. I'm
willing to help the legitimate user, and if the user has an illegitimate
purpose, the information I give is no more than what is already readily
available.

In article ,
"David R. Norton MVP" wrote:

The competency or lack thereof of the shops you've encountered isn't relative
to the discussion. There are shops that can do so.

Assuming you meant "relevant", you've still made no explanation for why
a computer shop should have any special authority or competency to
determine ownership of a file.

How many are willing to make house calls? How many are willing to
take on the liability for damages, including bonding? How many do
more than cursory background checks on their employees? How many
even have an interest in providing that service?

Every one I've ever encountered for businesses, not many for personal
computers

You've checked that they're willing to assume the liability? I'm not
sure that speaks very well of the shop owner's judgement. How much do
they charge for the service?

What kind of check do they do on their employees?

but it's not a major problem to haul a single box into the shop.

Guess your time isn't particularly valuable. What about those that live
100+ miles from the nearest "shop"?

How many computer shop employees know how to tell whether person A
has legal standing to open any particular file?

There's nothing difficult about it for anyone with a bit of
experience.

That's just daft. What is it about computer shop experience that gives
*any* special ability to determine legal issues? Most of the computer
repair people I know are no less susceptible to social engineering than
anyone else. As a small business owner, I wouldn't want to bet the
equity of my company on a repairman's credulity. The training I'd have
to give them wouldn't justify the expense, so I wouldn't provide that
service.

Hmmm...what authority is necessary? How do I know someone is "in
authority"?

Ridiculous comeback and you know it.

Have you ever run your own business? What authorization criteria did
your bonding company use when deciding whether to bond you for a job?
How about your insurance company - if there's risk involved in providing
the service, do you think they're going to insure you for professional
liability if you don't have some criterion for determining who can
authorize you to break the protection?

If you think this is ridiculous, then the corollary is that you think
there isn't much risk involved for the shop owner, which undermines your
insistence that there must be some additional layer between the user and
help.

So the person (not in authority) at the company site takes the file
home, and can have it unprotected just for the asking?

Nope. Not if the repair person has moderate intelligence and experience.

And here I thought you were suspicious. That claim isn't backed by every
day experience - people of moderate intelligence and experience are
socially engineered hourly. How much are you willing to bet that I
couldn't convince that moderately intelligent repairman that my claim is
valid?

Don't bother replying, I'm done with you.

Replies on newsgroups aren't necessarily personal - I'm mostly replying
to your argument, not you.