Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
kevo kevo is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default Password recovery for MSWord

I recently lost a password to a MSword document i had saved and while
trying to figure out a way to recover the password i came across these
instructions on numerous websites:

1.) Open a protected document in MS Word
2.) Save as "Web Page (*.htm; *.html)", close Word
3.) Open html-document in any Text-Editor
4.) Search "w:UnprotectPassword" tag, the line reads something like
that: w:UnprotectPasswordABCDEF01/w:UnprotectPassword
5.) Keep the "password" in mind
6.) Open original document (.doc) with any hex-editor
7.) Search for hex-values of the password (reverse order!)
8.) Overwrite all 4 double-bytes with 0x00, Save, Close
9.) Open document with MS Word, Select "Tools / Unprotect Document"
(password is blank)


Apperently this is a loophole someone discovered that allows anybody to
gain access to a protected word or excel document.
But why the hell would you be hacking into a protected document to
change the password if you can already open it to begin with??
This is so stupid.
If anybody can help me with this, i would be greatly appreciated. I need
a way to regain access to a document and these instructions are not
making sense to me.

kevin
  #2   Report Post  
Posted to microsoft.public.word.docmanagement
CyberTaz CyberTaz is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,348
Default Password recovery for MSWord

The instructions you're listing pertain to removing Protection from (or
UnProtecting) a Word document as in ToolsProtection where a password has
been used. This is a feature that is used in Forms & other docs where users
need to open the file but are limited as to what changes they can make. It
doesn't pertain to Password to Open.

If you have applied a password to prevent opening the file & can't remember
the password you are pretty much out of luck.

Regards |:)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 10/1/06 12:46 PM, in article ,
"kevo" wrote:

I recently lost a password to a MSword document i had saved and while
trying to figure out a way to recover the password i came across these
instructions on numerous websites:

1.) Open a protected document in MS Word
2.) Save as "Web Page (*.htm; *.html)", close Word
3.) Open html-document in any Text-Editor
4.) Search "w:UnprotectPassword" tag, the line reads something like
that: w:UnprotectPasswordABCDEF01/w:UnprotectPassword
5.) Keep the "password" in mind
6.) Open original document (.doc) with any hex-editor
7.) Search for hex-values of the password (reverse order!)
8.) Overwrite all 4 double-bytes with 0x00, Save, Close
9.) Open document with MS Word, Select "Tools / Unprotect Document"
(password is blank)


Apperently this is a loophole someone discovered that allows anybody to
gain access to a protected word or excel document.
But why the hell would you be hacking into a protected document to
change the password if you can already open it to begin with??
This is so stupid.
If anybody can help me with this, i would be greatly appreciated. I need
a way to regain access to a document and these instructions are not
making sense to me.

kevin


Reply
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
word password recovery johny Microsoft Word Help 3 January 24th 18 10:28 AM
Password protect content editing vs. password protect open document ?? Camille Petersen Microsoft Word Help 1 May 3rd 06 01:25 PM
Password protect content editing vs. password protect open document ?? Camille Petersen New Users 1 May 3rd 06 01:25 PM
password protection [email protected] Microsoft Word Help 1 January 20th 05 08:41 PM
password protection Cheruvim Microsoft Word Help 0 January 20th 05 04:19 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:48 PM.

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 Microsoft Office Word Forum - WordBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about Microsoft Word"