Corrupted Microsoft Access Database

[Segnosaur]

REcently came across a very strange problem. Just wondering if anyone has heard of something similar, or knows a way around it.

Here at work, we have this small little application that uses a Microsoft Access database. It gets updated on a daily basis with an automated process, but usually we don't need to pay attention to it.

We never bothered to put a password on the database (since it wasn't a critical system, and MS Access security isn't that strong anyways.) However, we did set up access rights on the database to (hopefully) prevent tampering.

A few days ago, we noticed the application that updates the database started failing with an 'invalid password' message. Furthermore, we can't even open the database because we don't know the password (which, like I said, we never set up to begin with.) So, I figure there's 2 possibilities, either we're a victim of some sort of virus or hacker (which seems very strange), or more likely the database has somehow become corrupted.

Has anyone ever heard of such a problem before? (specifically, a corrupt database suddenly 'requiring' a password.) Anyone have any problems for fixing the problem? (We can't run 'repair/compact' because we don't have the password.)

Can anyone recommend any 3rd party tools to fix the problem? (I've seen various share-ware tools for detecting the password, but I'm not sure how good any of them are.)

 

[arthwollipot]

Here at work, we have this small little application that uses a Microsoft Access database.

As opposed to the small big applications that I use all the time.

No, I'm sorry, I can't help.

 

[Ducky]

MSAccess: The bane of DBAs.

 

[Wudang]

Take a backup then try one of these would be my first bet
http://www.cnet.com/topic-software/microsoft-access/password.html

 

[Segnosaur]

Take a backup

Actually, we had been doing backups. But, our SysAdmin rotates the backup tapes every month, and it looks like this problem occured 3 months ago... (But, since the program accessing the DB was automated, nobody noticed.)

then try one of these would be my first bet
http://www.cnet.com/topic-software/microsoft-access/password.html

I had already gone through some of the tools here, and tried a few... Most are shareware, and while I don't object to paying for something to fix our problem, I want to make sure that whatever tool we pick actually works. (That's the main reason I was asking for recommendations.)

Of course, like I said, the problem could be some sort of corruption, in which case finding a way to fix the DB might solve our problems too.

 

[Almo]

I don't know if this is relevant.

On our build machine at work, I have a bunch of scheduled tasks running under my username and password. When you create a scheduled task, you enter the account name and password to run the task under. Ubisoft makes us change our passwords every 3 months (and retains the last 10 so we can't duplicate). After I change my password, these scheduled tasks all start failing with "invalid password." Have to go back in to the scheduled task panel and enter your new password for each one.

 

[a_unique_person]

This may be my imagination, but did MS bring out a patch that made you put a password on databases.