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How To Password-Protect the MSDE

The MSDE ("Microsoft Desktop Engine") is used for standalone versions of Lading Manager only. If you are using SQL Server 2005 Express, this will work as well.

When the MSDE is installed, the main system administrator ("SA") logon is established with a blank password. This is done so that other systems may use the MSDE with worrying about what value is in the SA password.

To perform any of the tasks in this help topic, you must understand how to use the DOS command prompt.

You will need to have ALMSys Support on the phone with you when you perform this task. Otherwise, you will end up with a changed password and absolutely no access to Lading Manager!


How to Verify if the SA Password is Blank
  • Get to a DOS command prompt.
  • Type osql -U sa and press Enter.
  • Password: should appear. Press Enter without typing anything.
  • If the password is indeed blank, then a 1> should appear. If not, you should get a message stating that the login failed.
  • (To get out of the >1 prompt, type exit andpress Enter.)

    How to Change the SA Password
  • Get to a DOS command prompt.
  • Type osql -U sa and press Enter.
  • Password: should appear. If there is an existing SA password, type it in. Otherwise, press Enter without typing anything.
  • If the logon is successful, then a 1> should appear. If not, you should get a message stating that the login failed.
  • Type sp_password @old = null, @new = 'xxxx', @loginame = 'sa'  where "xxxx" is the 4 to 16 character new password. If there is an existing password, then replace the "null" with the password (in single quotes).
  • Type go and press Enter. You should get a message that the password was changed.
  • Type exit and press Enter to quit the osql session.

    After the Password Has Been Changed
    The new password MUST be encrypted and placed into the LadingConnect.ini file. This encrypted password can only be supplied to you from ALMSys Support.