Microsoft policy regarding missing or incorrect passwords (189126)

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Microsoft has added password protection to programs and files to help prevent unauthorized access to important information. In many Microsoft products, you can apply a password to help prevent unauthorized users from performing certain actions, such as opening a file or program. When a user tries to perform the action, the user is prompted for a password. If the user does not type the correct password, the user cannot perform the action. Microsoft support engineers cannot help you retrieve passwords that have been lost or forgotten and applied to files and features in Microsoft products.

Third-party password tools

Some third-party companies claim to be able to circumvent passwords that have been applied to files and features that Microsoft programs use. For legal reasons, we cannot recommend or endorse any one of these companies. If you need help to break or to reset a password, you can locate and contact a third-party company for this help. You use such third-party products and services at your own risk.

Employees and passwords

You may experience problems if an employee leaves the company and used files that are protected with a password while employed. For example:

• One of your employees left your company. The employee used files that were protected with a password. You do not know the passwords for the files.
• Before a disgruntled employee leaves your company, the employee applied passwords to some of your files. Now, you cannot open the files, and the employee cannot reveal or refuses to reveal the passwords to you.

Microsoft engineers cannot help you break the passwords that are applied to the files. Use the following methods to help prevent these problems:

• When employees leave your company, make sure that they either remove all the passwords from their files or give you a complete list of all their passwords. Make sure that you maintain correct contact information for the employees so that you can contact them if a password not work.
• To help protect your files from deliberate, malicious password application, make sure that you keep backup copies of all your files. Make backup copies of critical files daily. Back up other files as needed.
• If you store your files on a Microsoft operating system, you can quickly suspend an employee's access to the server. When you do this, you prevent the employee from making changes to files. You can also prevent users from accessing files that they do not need.