ACC97: "Can't Open the Microsoft Jet Engine Workgroup Information File" Error Message (174493)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 97
This article was previously published under Q174493
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

After you uninstall the Microsoft Access Wizards, you receive the following error message when you try to create a new blank database:
Can't open the Microsoft Jet engine workgroup information file.

CAUSE

When you run the Microsoft Access 97 or Microsoft Office 97 Professional Edition Setup program to remove the Microsoft Access 97 Wizards, the following Registry key for the Microsoft Jet database engine is deleted: 
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Access\Jet\3.5\Engines

RESOLUTION

There are two possible methods to resolve this problem:
  • Add the wizards again using Maintenance Mode setup, and then run Setup using a command line switch of /y.

    -or-
  • Rename the Setup.stf file and reinstall Microsoft Access.
The following two sections describe each of these methods in detail.

Method 1 Maintenance Mode Setup and Setup /y

In this method, you first add the wizards again by running the Setup program in Maintenance Mode. Then, you run the Setup program a second time using the command line switch of "setup /y" to add the missing Registry key.
  1. Run setup from the compact disc that installed Microsoft Access. This should start Maintenance Mode setup.
  2. In the first Office setup dialog box, click Add/Remove.
  3. In the second Office setup dialog box, click Access in the list, and then click the Change Options button.
  4. In the third Office setup dialog box, click to select the Wizards and Advanced Wizards check boxes, and then click OK.
  5. Click Continue to add the wizards again, and then click to Restart Windows.
  6. Using the same compact disc that you used originally to install Microsoft Access, run Setup again by following these steps:

    1. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
    2. Enter the following command line (assuming the CD-ROM is d:\),

      D:\ setup /y

      and then click OK.
    3. In the first Office setup dialog box, click Reinstall.
    4. Click Restart Windows at the end of the Microsoft Office setup program.

Method 2 Renaming the Setup.stf and Reinstalling

In this method, you rename your program's setup information file, and then reinstall.
  • For Microsoft Office 97 Professional edition, rename the Off97Pro.stf file, and then reinstall Microsoft Office 97 using the same CD-ROM or diskettes that you used originally to install the application.
  • For the Microsoft Access 97 stand-alone program, rename the Acc97.stf file, and then reinstall Microsoft Access 97 using the same compact disc or diskettes that you used originally to install the application.
By default the setup information files are located under:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Setup.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem


  1. Run Microsoft Access Setup and perform a complete install of the application.
  2. Run Microsoft Access Setup again to access Maintenance Mode options.
  3. In the first Office setup dialog box, click Add/Remove.
  4. In the second Office setup dialog box, select Access from the list, and then click the Change Option button.
  5. Click to clear the check boxes for Wizards and Advanced Wizards.
  6. Click Continue, and then click Yes when the Setup program warns you about removing two components.
  7. When setup prompts you to Restart Windows, click the Restart Windows button.
  8. Start Microsoft Access 97.
  9. On the File menu, click New Database.
  10. Click Blank Database, and then click OK. Note that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

REFERENCES

For more information about Method 2, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

160954 Removing/Adding Wizards Fails to Create ISAM Registry Key
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/26/2003
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg KB174493
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.