You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hoping the clever IT bods can help. I password protected an Excel file on work windows laptop. Completely forgotten the password so cannot open or delete it. Quick google does not give hope. Some tutorials but all have conflicting advice and I’m a complete IT numpty. I’d like access to file or even just to delete it without access but I’m totally stuck without password.
It’s only personal finance stuff but prefer to keep it private from works server etc. I can replace info but don’t like idea of it sitting on my laptop forever.
thanks in advance, as usual.
Sorry I misread. You can't even get in can you.
Petrol and matches?
Correct, I can’t open the file. Can’t even delete it. Arggg
Phone it and ask them to remove a suspicious file from your computer.
They'll come round with petrol and matches.
Was it ever saved before you password protected it? If so and it is on a server there might be a backup of the unencrypted version that IT might restore for you…
She is my go-to for anything Excel, she's brilliant.
That's not the problem crazylegs.
OP can't rename the file.
This claims a 100% success rate, but you'll have to pay for it. And it will take a while, depending on how complex the password was.
https://www.passfab.com/products/excel-password-recovery.html
Is this in some sort of horrible “Sharepoint” style folder etc? Because you should be able to delete files via the OS even if it’s been password protected.
I naughtily did this years ago - previous employer had a password encrypted excel file for everyone's salary sat on a shared drive/folder. I copied it and found (I probably downloaded it from Pirate bay at the time) a brute force password hacking tool. Left it running overnight and found out what everyone's salary was the next day.
yeah needs more info, like [i]how[/i] was the file password-protected? Makes me think it wasn’t simply via Excel, as you’d be able to just delete it if so.Is this in some sort of horrible “Sharepoint” style folder etc? Because you should be able to delete files via the OS even if it’s been password protected.
I assume there's no chance of it opening in, say, Gdocs or Libre Office etc ?
bikebob, can we start with a little more detail, which version of excel is it, older ones there is a method where you can convert the file to a compressed zip, fiddle with a bit of code to remove the security, and then convert it back and it can all be good. I used this method to unlock some files at work that were used for calculating drug release data when the team had forgotten the password. unfortunately they then updated the version of excel they saved it as so when it happened again it was a lot more complete.
Also how precious is the data? as fiddling does have risk.....
btw, that vba link earlier does actually require you to have the password. It's been a very long time since there were easy workarounds to remove Excel passwords
older ones there is a method where you can convert the file to a compressed zip
yep, that. If it is newer file you are going to be more stuck unless the password is very short and one of the removal tools can work it out
Correct, I can’t open the file. Can’t even delete it. Arggg
This suggests though that the problem is completely different. If the file is in OneDrive or a synced Sharepoint folder and the syncing has stopped then you will have an icon looking like the file is on your computer but it actually isn't. Then when you try and open it you get an error.
Can you tell us the error message you get when you try and open it or copy it. That might give us more of a clue what is going on. Also, can you describe the file icon or even screenshot it. Sometimes there is a little X or other symbol on it that gives a clue
Is this in some sort of horrible “Sharepoint” style folder etc? Because you should be able to delete files via the OS even if it’s been password protected.
This,
yeah needs more info, like how was the file password-protected? Makes me think it wasn’t simply via Excel, as you’d be able to just delete it if so.
And this,
This suggests though that the problem is completely different.
And that.
I could possibly crack it, depending on how secure the password was. But "I password-protected an Excel document and now I can't delete it" makes no sense. @bikebob can you elaborate on what's actually going on?
Thanks to all. I have now deleted the file. It was in local C drive (pc) and when connected to vpn / internet the option to delete was greyed out. But when stand alone and no internet I could delete it. Have also deleted it from recycle bin (had to google that bit). Will start again (pain) and write down password.
As always really appreciate everyone’s input.
I would also suggest if it is personal finance don't put it on a work PC