Double-clicking the shortcut to an Access 2000 object starts Access 97 instead of Access 2000 (225872)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q225872
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).

For a Microsoft Access 2002 version of this article, see 289282.

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a shortcut that points to a Microsoft Access 2000 database object, the Windows Installer starts, and then you receive the following error message:
Cannot find the file '<drive>:\<path><filename>' (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.
-or-

When you double-click an Access 2000 database or a shortcut that points to an Access 2000 database or database object, Access 97 starts instead of Access 2000, and then you receive the following error message:
Unrecognized database format '<drive>:\<path>\<filename>.mdb'.

CAUSE

File associations cause this problem. Whenever the Microsoft Access engine (Msaccess.exe) is started, the engine checks to see if it is registered as the program to be associated with database (*.mdb) files. If not, the engine registers itself as the default engine.

RESOLUTION

Method 1

Start Access 2000 first, and then double-click the database or the shortcut.

If Access 2000 is no longer registered as the default Access engine, the Windows Installer starts, and Access 2000 reregisters itself. This occurs each time that you use Access 97 before you use Access 2000. If you click Cancel before the Windows Installer completes the registration process, Access 97 remains the registered version.

Method 2

IMPORTANT: This method does not work for shortcuts to database objects.

Create a shortcut that includes the path to the version of Access and the database that you want to open. For example, the target of the shortcut could be:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\My Documents\Db1.mdb"

NOTE: Access uses page-level locking with this method. For additional information about page-level locking in this case, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

238258 ACC2000: Access Database Does Not Use Record-Level Locking When Started from a Windows Shortcut

MORE INFORMATION

When you double-click a shortcut that contains the path to a database file or object within a database file, the shortcut relies on the operating system to choose which executable program file to use when opening the database. If different versions of Access reside on the computer, the last version registered with the operating system starts and opens (or attempts to open) the database file.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Install Microsoft Access 97 on a computer, and then install Microsoft Access 2000.

    NOTE: Be sure to install Microsoft Access in two different folders.
  2. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb that ships with Access 2000 in Access 2000.
  3. Drag the Catalog report to the Windows desktop, and then close Access 2000. This creates a shortcut to the report within that particular .mdb file.
  4. Double-click the shortcut and note that Access 2000 starts; then, close Access.
  5. Open and then close Microsoft Access 97.
  6. Double-click the shortcut on the desktop that points to the Catalog report within the Access 2000 database.

    Note that Microsoft Access 97 starts instead of Access 2000, and that you receive the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/18/2004
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB225872
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