Almost a year ago I protected a workbook via password. Now that i need to
unprotect the workbook, I can't remember the password. Any ideas? Thanks

Here is a write-up I have collected over the years on your subject. HTH
Otto
Password, Forgot It

Age-Old Problem. Go To This Site For Help/Guidance:

http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm



These Are Good Too:

http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com

http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm

http://www.lostpassword.com

http://www.lostpassword.com/msofpass97.htm

http://www.password-crackers.com/pwdcracking.html#news

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/fileandvbapwords.html



If it's a worksheet password, you can use the macro below (takes under a
minute), or for

either worksheet or workbook passwords, download password.xla from

http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm



Sub PasswordBreaker()

'Name of the Author lost in antiquity

'Breaks worksheet password protection.

Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer

Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer

Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer

Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer

On Error Resume Next

For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66

For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66

For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66

For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126

ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _

Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _

& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)

If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then

MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _

& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _

& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)

Exit Sub

End If

Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next

Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next

End Sub



If it's a file password, try a commercial service such as

http://www.lostpassword.com



Another version of the same macro is:

Sub PasswordBreaker()

'by Bob McCormick on NG: microsoft.public.excel.misc

'on 22 May 2001.

'Breaks worksheet password protection.

Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer

Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer

Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer

Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer



On Error Resume Next

For i = 65 To 66

For j = 65 To 66

For k = 65 To 66

For l = 65 To 66

For m = 65 To 66

For i1 = 65 To 66

For i2 = 65 To 66

For i3 = 65 To 66

For i4 = 65 To 66

For i5 = 65 To 66

For i6 = 65 To 66

For n = 32 To 126

ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _

Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _

& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)

If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then

MsgBox "One useble password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _

& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _

& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)

Exit Sub

End If

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

On Error GoTo 0

End Sub



Below is a standard response to the "forgot password" query.

From Norman Harker

Here's the standard collation of resources:



Please note that unauthorized use of password recovery techniques can breach
software

license agreements and leave you without otherwise available assistance and
remedies. You

may also be liable to being sued or even prosecuted under the terms of the
software

license. You can in some cases be in breach of terms of your employment
contract and find

yourself out on the street.



You are also warned that civil and criminal proceedings risks should not be
viewed lightly.

If in any doubt, don't! Most, if not all, software providers, will assist by
email, free of

charge, genuine cases where users have lost passwords and/or registration
codes.



The real lessons to be learned? Keep a track of your passwords. Look after
your employees

and they'll not leave without telling you the passwords! Excel is not, and
has never been

made out to be, secure as a mode of storing data.



The following sites advertise ability to recover, amongst other things,
Excel file

passwords. These passwords are imposed when saving Excel files and are not
to be confused

with *internal* passwords on sheets and workbook structure.



http://www.intertek.org.uk/

Excel Workbook recovery. Demo version up to 2 characters free. Full version

for $5 advertises ability to recover any password.



Elcomsoft Advanced Office XP Password Recovery

http://www.elcomsoft.com/aoxppr.html

Unregistered (trial) version can be used during 30 days after installation
(although it

doesn't expire, actually) and has some limitations. They have programs for
earlier

versions. Cost of license $30



Lostpassword.Com

http://www.lostpassword.com/excel.htm

All versions of MS Excel are supported (including Excel 2002) $45. Download
demo version

covers 2 character passwords and works but not much use. The licensed
version covers

passwords up to 9 characters. They do have a 4-7 day guaranteed decryption
service for a

fee!



AccentSoft Excel password recovery

http://www.denglad.com/en/excel.shtml

Free trial version for up to 4 characters. Covers Excel 97 - XP. License $25



Soft4You

http://www.soft4you.com/excel/default.asp

Downloadable free trial up to 3 characters. Covers Excel 4.0 to XP. Workbook
Version

License $35 Workbook + VBA License $49. They also have a guaranteed password
recovery

service done on a per document basis.



Discount Password Recovery

http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com/

Operates on a per document basis. 8+ characters can take 7-15 days and costs
167.95



"JW" wrote in message
...
Almost a year ago I protected a workbook via password. Now that i need to
unprotect the workbook, I can't remember the password. Any ideas? Thanks

There are many programs and code snippets out there for retrieving a lot of
these, you won't get much help cracking passwords in here though. Try Google
and lookup Passaware.
--
-John Northwest11
Please rate when your question is answered to help us and others know what
is helpful.


"JW" wrote:

Almost a year ago I protected a workbook via password. Now that i need to
unprotect the workbook, I can't remember the password. Any ideas? Thanks

Take a look at this...

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/fileandvbapwords.html
--
HTH...

Jim Thomlinson


"JW" wrote:

Almost a year ago I protected a workbook via password. Now that i need to
unprotect the workbook, I can't remember the password. Any ideas? Thanks

Hi

The website I used to unprotect a spreadsheet is:
http://ensode.net/xls-crack.jsf

Its free to use and you don't have to enter an email address etc.

If you have lots of spreadsheets to unprotect - you may need to refresh the
website a few times.

"JW" wrote:

Almost a year ago I protected a workbook via password. Now that i need to
unprotect the workbook, I can't remember the password. Any ideas? Thanks