How to control whether Access loads the Borland Data Engine (BDE) (307455)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2002
This article was previously published under Q307455
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry


Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

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

For a Microsoft Access 2000 version of this article, see 248841.

SUMMARY

If you want to control when and if the Borland Database Engine (BDE) is used by Microsoft Access, you can do so by changing the value in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\Xbase\BDE

NOTE: You may have to manually add this key.

MORE INFORMATION

The following steps show you how to add this registry key and how to set the appropriate value.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

In Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

  1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedit in the Open box.
  2. In Registry Editor, locate the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\Xbase

  3. If you see the BDE entry (the BDE entry is of type DWord) under the Xbase key, go to step 8. If the BDE entry is not under the Xbase key, you must add it. To add the BDE key with its associated DWord value, follow steps 4 through 7:
  4. Click the Xbase key.
  5. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Note that a new DWORD with the temporary name of New Value #1 appears under the Xbase key.
  6. Click New Value #1, and then on the Edit menu, click Rename.
  7. Change the name to BDE.
  8. Double-click BDE to open it.
  9. Under Base, click Decimal.
  10. In the Value data box, set the BDE key to one of the following three values:
    • 0 - Use the BDE if it is installed. If not, use the ISAM.
    • 1 - Always use the BDE. If it's not installed then fail.
    • 2 - Always use the ISAM.

    After you type the setting that you want in Value data, click OK.

  11. Quit Registry Editor.

In Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 2000

  1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedt32 in the Open box.
  2. In Registry Editor, locate the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\Xbase

  3. If you see the BDE entry (the BDE entry is of type DWord) under the Xbase key, double-click it, and then go to step 8. If the BDE entry is not under the Xbase key, you must add it. To add the BDE key with its associated DWord value, follow steps 4 through 7:
  4. Click the Xbase key.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Add Value.
  6. In the Value Name box, type BDE.
  7. In the Data Type list, click REG_DWORD, and then click OK.
  8. In the Data box, type one of the following three values:
    • 0 - Use the BDE if it is installed. If not, use the ISAM.
    • 1 - Always use the BDE. If it's not installed then fail.
    • 2 - Always use the ISAM.

  9. Under Radix, click Decimal, and then click OK.
  10. Quit Registry Editor.

REFERENCES

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/10/2004
Keywords:kbhowto KB307455
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