Help! with excel

[richierich]

We have some excel spreadsheets at work that are password protected, and the IT Manager has lost the passwords!, so we cannot open them
Does anyone know of a proggie that can hack the passwords effectively?

cheers
Rich

[DJ Doena]

Haven't tried any of these, but:

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Password_Management_Utilities/Excel_Password_Recovery_Master.html

http://www.openwall.com/passwords/microsoft-excel

http://www.1000files.com/free/excel-password.html

http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&safe=off&q=excel+password+decrypter&btnG=Suche&meta=

[Touti]

Karsten I don't know if it still works but a few years ago (Excel 97 I think) password protected files were "openable" with Open Office.  I have OO at home, I can try it if you want.

[DJ Doena]

You mean Rich, not me.

[Najemikon]

I swear by a site called Petri for a lot of information so I just did a quick search and found this: Excel Password Recovery

I've used something similar before but can't for the life of me think what it was. Also I know it can be done through VBA because a colleague creates macros to do it in the same sheet. The idea being the average user doesn't even know what a macro is never mind thinking to see if someone created an "Unprotect Sheet"! Might be worth a Google, but I think it would probably have to be created while the horse is still in the stable and the door is intact...

[richierich]

Thanks for the info guys, we will try using the programs you have linked to and see if we get any joy

cheers
Rich