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glynners
28th April 2006, 15:37
Is there any way of removing protection from an excel spreadsheet without knowing the password?
mathare
28th April 2006, 16:05
I think there are tools to do it somewhere on the web.

Got one of those quiz ones where you are convinced your answer is right and that the quizmaster has spelled their answer wrong? They are so annoying!
glynners
28th April 2006, 16:17
HAHA, they are damn annoying.

I've managed to find a little programme that removes protection so its all good :box
Win2Win
28th April 2006, 18:13
I usually find removing the staples works for me :doh
GlosRFC
2nd May 2006, 19:29
Depends on the type of protection....if it's an internal password, then removing that protection is easy without downloading stuff. Simply copy the contents of the "protected" sheet into a new workbook and save it.

If it's an external password click File, Save As...then click on the Tools button. Go to General Options and remove the asterisks from both boxes. Click OK, enter a new name to save the file as...and click OK.

There...those 2 tips should solve 99% of all Excel password problems.
Win2Win
2nd May 2006, 19:39
That's what I like about Microsoft security.....unbreakable :D
GlosRFC
2nd May 2006, 19:58
Hehe...as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Excel "passwords" are converted into a very simple 12-character string which sounds impressive - until you know that the the first character only has 2 possible values. The remaining 11 characters have 95 values so then it's just a case of trying out the 194,560 combinations. :wink
mathare
2nd May 2006, 21:23
I think loading the spreadsheet in Access can get round the password too now I come to think of it
GlosRFC
3rd May 2006, 02:57
That's right Matt...essentially it does pretty much the same as cutting and pasting into another workbook by stripping out the password hashes.

Not sure why you'd want to open Access when Excel is already there though.....
mathare
3rd May 2006, 10:46
That's right Matt...essentially it does pretty much the same as cutting and pasting into another workbook by stripping out the password hashes.

Not sure why you'd want to open Access when Excel is already there though.....I have had corrupted workbooks that won't open in Excel but are retrievable through Access, that's the only reason I know about it