if you do a google search on 'password' you will come up with a reply like
this which was posted by Otto Moehrbach a few days ago
I have copied it below
Barbara
Password, Forgot It
Age-Old Problem. Go To This Site For Help/Guidance:
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm
These Are Good Too:
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html
http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm
http://www.lostpassword.com
http://www.lostpassword.com/msofpass97.htm
http://www.password-crackers.com/pwdcracking.html#news
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/fileandvbapwords.html
If it's a worksheet password, you can use the macro below (takes under a
minute), or for either worksheet or workbook passwords, download
password.xla from
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/~huse/xlpassword.htm
Sub PasswordBreaker()
'Name of the Author lost in antiquity
'Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _
& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _
& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
If it's a file password, try a commercial service such as
http://www.lostpassword.com
Another version of the same macro is:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
'by Bob McCormick on NG: microsoft.public.excel.misc
'on 22 May 2001.
'Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66
For j = 65 To 66
For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66
For m = 65 To 66
For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66
For i3 = 65 To 66
For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66
For i6 = 65 To 66
For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _
& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One useble password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _
& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
Next
On Error GoTo 0
End Sub
Below is a standard response to the "forgot password" query. From Norman
Harker Here's the standard collation of resources:
Please note that unauthorized use of password recovery techniques can breach
software license agreements and leave you without otherwise available
assistance and remedies. You may also be liable to being sued or even
prosecuted under the terms of the software license. You can in some cases be
in breach of terms of your employment contract and find yourself out on the
street.
You are also warned that civil and criminal proceedings risks should not be
viewed lightly.
If in any doubt, don't! Most, if not all, software providers, will assist by
email, free of charge, genuine cases where users have lost passwords and/or
registration codes.
The real lessons to be learned? Keep a track of your passwords. Look after
your employees and they'll not leave without telling you the passwords!
Excel is not, and has never been made out to be, secure as a mode of storing
data.
The following sites advertise ability to recover, amongst other things,
Excel file passwords. These passwords are imposed when saving Excel files
and are not to be confused with *internal* passwords on sheets and workbook
structure.
http://www.intertek.org.uk/
Excel Workbook recovery. Demo version up to 2 characters free. Full version
for $5 advertises ability to recover any password.
Elcomsoft Advanced Office XP Password Recovery
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aoxppr.html
Unregistered (trial) version can be used during 30 days after installation
(although it doesn't expire, actually) and has some limitations. They have
programs for earlier versions. Cost of license $30
Lostpassword.Com
http://www.lostpassword.com/excel.htm
All versions of MS Excel are supported (including Excel 2002) $45. Download
demo version covers 2 character passwords and works but not much use. The
licensed version covers passwords up to 9 characters. They do have a 4-7 day
guaranteed decryption service for a fee!
AccentSoft Excel password recovery
http://www.denglad.com/en/excel.shtml
Free trial version for up to 4 characters. Covers Excel 97 - XP. License $25
Soft4You
http://www.soft4you.com/excel/default.asp
Downloadable free trial up to 3 characters. Covers Excel 4.0 to XP. Workbook
Version License $35 Workbook + VBA License $49. They also have a guaranteed
password recovery service done on a per document basis.
Discount Password Recovery
http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com/
Operates on a per document basis. 8+ characters ca
