MS Word Lock out

[Melissa G]

Last edited Mon Nov 4, 2013, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Hello Brilliant DUers!

A very non techie older friend had major house damage in a remote area and was away from home for several months during repairs. In that time he forgot his MS Word password and now his docs are locked up. Any advice?

Thanks!
Melissa

PS. My friend wanted me to add/send his profound thanks to the generous folks at DU
for their much appreciated assistance!

[JBoy]

1. Unfortunately, that's a tough fix.

If he really can't remember, the only solutions out there are some brute-force tools you can get that try every possible password on the file to see if it opens. Depending on the password length, this can take up to forever. I've never actually used one of them, but an example of one is here: http://word-password-unlocker.software.informer.com/

A better solution, unfortunately again, might be for him to think of every possible password he could have given it and try them. Most times people don't pick passwords significantly different from other passwords they've used.

[Melissa G]

3. Thanks. He has tried to think of all his passwords and so far no luck

He has a lot of writing on that file that he would like to get back. I'll send him your info.

[Melissa G]

6. Any thoughts about these unlocking tools?

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/word-password-recovery.htm

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. Which version of Word? And is he using a 32-bit or 64-bit system?

[Melissa G]

4. He is using Microsoft Word 2010 size 2.95KB

64 bit, Windows 7

[AnotherMcIntosh]

8. Microsoft, of course, has sought to make successive versions with passwords more secure.

He might try Vedit. It's not a dedicated password recovery program, but it will open a 64-bit file so that he can look for the password.

[PrestonLocke]

5. Depending on what version of word he is using, the password may be stored in clear text

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/399674/break_ms_word_password/

[Melissa G]

7. Excellent!

That looks promising! I'll pass the info along. Do you think it will work on a 2010 version of Word?

[PrestonLocke]

10. I don't know for sure

but it's doubtful. I believe for 2010 Microsoft had changed to an XML standard for their documents.

[Melissa G]

11. We'll give it a shot anyway.

Thanks!

[RC]

9. Try contacting Microsoft. I know they can unlock password protected files.

I know this first hand from being in IT, before I retired. Can't hurt to try.

(NSA may be able to help too.)

[Melissa G]

12. I'll pass the info along. Thanks! n/t

[Turbineguy]

13. What about

taking out the hard drive and hooking it up to another computer and fishing out the documents?

[Melissa G]

14. Will that unlock the doc?

I think the file itself is what's locked out, but I don't know much

[Turbineguy]

15. I missunderstood

I thought the Wndows password was lost. Sorry.