ACC: Cannot Delete Admin User

• Microsoft Access versions 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you try to delete the user Admin, you may receive the following error message:

   Can't perform this operation

CAUSE

In Microsoft Access you cannot delete any of the default user or group accounts. The default accounts are as follows:

   In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97  (Admin, User, Admins and Users)

   In Microsoft Access version 2.0 (Admin, Guest, Admins, Guests,
   and Users).

RESOLUTION

It is not necessary to delete the default users and groups. Instead, you can create alternate users and groups, and then disable the default users and groups.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: The following steps secure the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in version 2.0.) Before beginning these steps, make a backup of both the Northwind.mdb and the System.mdw files (or the NWIND.MDB and the SYSTEM.MDA files in version 2.0)

In Microsoft Access 97

To secure the Northwind.mdb, follow these steps:

1. Join a secure workgroup or create a new workgroup. For information about how to do this, search for "Security, workgroups" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Index.

2. Activate the Logon screen. For information about how to do this, search for "Security, logon procedures" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Index.

3. Create an administrator account. For information about how to do this, search for "Security, permissions" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Index.

4. Quit Microsoft Access and restart it, logging in with the new administrator account when prompted for a logon name.

5. Remove the Admin user from the Admins group. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click User And Group Accounts on the menu that appears. On the User's tab, select Admin as the user name and select Admins as the group. Click Remove, and then click OK.

6. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click User-Level Security Wizard on the menu that appears. Follow the instructions in the wizard. For more information about the Security Wizard, search for "Security Wizard" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Topics.

   NOTE: After following these steps, the only users who can gain access to the Northwind.mdb are those users who are members of the Admins group. You will have to grant permissions to other users or groups as you create them.

In Microsoft Access Version 2.0

To secure the NWIND.MDB, follow these steps:

1. Create a new workgroup or join a secured workgroup by using the Workgroup Administrator. For more information about how to do this, search for "workgroup," and then "Creating or Joining a Microsoft Access Workgroup" using the Microsoft Access 2.0 Help menu.

2. Open the sample database NWIND.MDB.

3. Create an administrative user by adding the new user to the Admins group. To do this, click Users on the Security menu, and then click New. After creating an administrative user, click Admins under Available groups, click Add, and then Click Close.

4. Add a password to the Admin user by clicking the Change Password option on the Security menu.

5. Quit Microsoft Access and restart it. Log in as the new user when prompted for a logon name.

6. Open NWIND.MDB again and click the Users option on the Security menu. Remove the Admin user from the Admins group, leaving the Admin user in the Users group.

7. Remove the permissions of the users and the Users group by clicking Permissions on the Security menu. Make sure that there are no permissions checked for the users group, the user "Guest" and the user "Admin" for either the existing objects or new objects.

8. Change the ownership of the database objects to your administrative user. Do this by either creating a new database, selecting Import Manager from the Add-ins option on the File menu, or clicking the "Change Owner" option on the Security menu. Change the ownership of each object manually.

REFERENCES

For more information about security, search for "wizards," and then "Secure a database using the User-Level Security Wizard" using the Microsoft Access 97 Help Index, or ask the Office Assistant.