I forgot my EXCEl file password, what now?

help me. Sir I saved a excel data named abhi2. It saveed with a password option.This file is very necessary to me .But I forget my password.what can do I now. you say in find menu choose c: drive and type *.pwl then find now. But I chech this process,I could not find my file abhi2.pwl.What can I do now? Abhijit Mitra,agartala,India

This question was answered on March 17, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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A:Hello and thank you for your question.

You have mentioned that you went through the process (Start, Find, Type *.pwl in the dialog box and then clicking Search Now)and did not find your file abhi2.pwl Let me ask this Are you using a different drive letter in your computer? If so, you would have to replace C: to whatever drive letter you created and follow the same procedure.

The PWL extension refers to PassWord List Typing the *.pwl extension in the dialog box will search all of the passwords (forgotten or not)that you created It does not search the actual file that you assigned the password to You will not find abhi2.pwl unless that is a password When all the files with .pwl extension are displayed, highlight them all by clicking the first one and holding down the SHIFT button and then press the DELETE button You will then be prompted whether or not you are sure you wanted to send it to the RECYCLE BIN Choose YES The next time you want to enter a password-protected application or file, you will be prompted for a password You can then enter an old or new password and it should tell that it is wrong and to reenter to make it your new password Do not empty your RECYCLE BIN unitl all your application password are reinstated You can always restore all PWL's from the RECYCLE BIN.

I would also suggest that next time you want to password-protect anything, please, write your password/s down and keep a copy of it where you alone can easily access it when you do need it It would save you not only a lot of time and energy, but a headache as well.

I hope this helps you with your question, if not, please, resubmit.

Good luck!

Thanks,

LREVERT

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Posted by Leonida of Chandler-Gilbert Community College on March 17, 2001

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