unable to extract data from .mdb

[dlenox]

Luuk,

Think that it is either 97 or 2002.

Rabbit,
zeroed out those bytes and access says "unrecogniz ed format"

dan

[Rabbit]

Did you zero out the correct bytes? 0x18 and 0x95 are hex coordinates. It doesn't mean the 18th and 95th byte

[Luuk]

i tried, replacing those characters, but same result:



oops, made an error, was accessing the file on my network drive, while i should have copied it to my local drive:
Now i get 'Could not connect':

[NeoPa]

Looking at How to use command-line switches in Microsoft Access it seems clear that no special copy of System.MDW is used, but that a profile file is specified. It may be important to post the contents of that file for us to look at.

[dlenox]

Rabbit,

Uh yea - I'm software engineer of 35+ yrs and worked in many number systems.

:)
Dan

[dlenox]

NeoPa,

getting back to the profile bit, not real up on it and I also see some info in the registry.

I understand that a profile overrides profile parameters and such, but did not think that it was used for security -what/how is a profile used in this manner?

dan

[dlenox]

Rabbit,

Ok I double checked and initially I did clear the 0x18th byte, redid it and double clicked and it is asking for a password now...

but previous password finder did not turn up a password...

dan

[NeoPa]

DLenox:
-what/how is a profile used in this manner?

If you post the contents of your file then we'll be in a position to analyse that for you. I've never used one, but I back myself to know what to look for. I would expect something in there will point to where the file you're using for security is found.

[dlenox]

NeoPa,

In registry under Computer/HKEY_LOCAL_MACH INE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/Microsoft/AccessRuntime/8.0/Profiles is an entry for the profile name and the value given is the path under ..../Wow6432Node for the manufacturer.

Profiles are used to override 'standard' settings such as: Clipboard Formats, Report Formats, AppHelp File, Icon, Startup Screen, Titlebar and Speller options.

I've tried all combinations of data entries to use as the password, but so far no good.

Dan

[dlenox]

Update,

I tried an OEM software called AccessFix and it showed all the tables, record counts, etc... it did not ask for passwords and looked very hopefull.

Unfortunately the license fee is $199, so it is just too steep for me. But it gives me hope that either a lower cost share ware, or lots of personal work may get my data out.

dan

[NeoPa]

In the first post of the thread (The OP) you give the command line used. This specifies a file explicitly to be used as the profile, so anything else after that (EG. from the registry) is a red herring.

This is the file I've asked to see the contents of posted here (twice previously I believe). It's fine if you're confused but if you don't want to post it for any reason then please just say so. It's hard for me to tell what's going on when your responses don't respond to what's been said.

I'm sure if you read my earlier posts carefully they will make sense but if anything is confusing then please say so in order that we can better deal with the situation.

[anvidc]

I believe that, there is a System.MDW file together in order for you to open the data file.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305542

[dlenox]

NeoPa,

I'm not confused, the profile specified is NOT a file, but registry settings! I previously described the registry contents above, here are the Keys (without detail values):

Clipboard Formats: Default / HTML / ASP / Excel / IIS / Txt / RTF
Jet Options: Too many to describe here
Report Formats: Default / HTML / Excel / Txt / RTF / Snapshot Format
RunTime Options: Default / App Help File / Icon / StartupScreen / Titlebar
Speller: Ignore All Caps / Ignore Mixed Digits / Language ID /Suggest Always / Suggest Main Dictionaries Only

When running I believe that it is using the default System.mdw file as there is not one in the directory structure, nor reference in the registry.

Dan

[NeoPa]

I also believe there is a System.Mdw file somewhere, though it might be named something else.

The registry is where this filename/path may well be specified, but in order to tell you specifically where to look I'd need access to the profile - which I don't have. This is not as straightforward as a text file to pass across in a forum page unfortunately.

BTW Dan - Thanks for the explanation. I misinterpreted the documentation for /Profile and your post helped me to understand why you weren't responding as I expected (which can be confusing).

I'm afraid I don't have enough ready understanding of the old system to be able to answer all your questions. I was hoping for more clues that may enable me to find the answers first, but it seems that isn't as easy as I'd expected.

Good luck anyway.

[dlenox]

NeoPa,

I've checked my system path and it was not modified by this application, no system.mdw file exists in the application installation directory (only one level) so it appears to be using the default system.mdw file.

If that is the case then the .mdw is not being used in any way for security.

Not sure what else to say on this matter of the system.mdw. By using the AccessFix application it was able to access all tables and records, kinda enforcing what I am saying.

dan