ACC: "Not a valid password" Err When DB Password Contains "\"

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you try to open a database for which you have set a database password, and you are sure that you have typed the correct password in the Password Required dialog box, you may still receive the following error message

   Not a valid password

CAUSE

Your database password contains a backslash character (\).

RESOLUTION

To open your database, type two backslash characters (\\) instead of one in the Password Required dialog box. For example, if your database password is "pass\word" (without the quotation marks), type "pass\\word" (without the quotation marks).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

If you want to remove the database password that contains a backslash and add a new database password, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Access and double-click More Files in the starting dialog box.

2. In the Open dialog box, select your database, click the Exclusive check box, and then click Open.

3. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Unset Database Password.

4. In the Unset Database Password dialog box, type the password that you want to unset, and then click OK. Your old password is removed.

5. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set Database Password.

6. In the Set Database Password dialog box, type your new password in the Password and Verify boxes, and then click OK.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Create a new database.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set Database Password.

3. In the Set Database Password dialog box, type "pass\word" (without the quotation marks) in the Password and Verify boxes, and then click OK.

4. Close the database and try to reopen it.

5. Type "pass\word" (without the quotation marks) in the Password Required dialog box. Note that you receive the "Not a valid password" error message.

6. Type "pass\\word" (without the quotation marks) in the Password Required dialog box. Note that your database opens.

REFERENCES

For more information about database passwords, search on "passwords," and then "Create or change passwords," using the Microsoft Access Help Index, or ask the Microsoft Access Office Assistant.

For information about using a database password containing a space, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q152760
   TITLE     : ACC95: DB Password with Space Becomes Invalid After Compact