You cannot open an Access 97 database in Access 2000 (310804)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q310804
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).

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open an Access 97 database in Access 2000, you may receive the following error message:
Cannot open a database created with a previous version of your application.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the registry key for Microsoft Jet 3.x is missing.

RESOLUTION

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.

To resolve this behavior, restore the correct registry settings:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
  2. Locate the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\ISAM Formats

  3. Right-click ISAM Formats, point to New, and then click Key.
  4. Rename the newly created key Jet 3.x.
  5. Click to open the Jet 3.x key, and then insert the following values in the right pane of Registry Editor:
       Value Name               Type               Data
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   CreateDBOnExport         REG_BINARY         00
   Engine                   REG_SZ             Jet 3.x
   IndexDialog              REG_BINARY         00
   IsamType                 REG_DWORD          0x00000000 (0)
   OneTablePerFile          REG_BINARY         00
  6. Quit Registry Editor.
  7. Start Access 2000, and then try again to open the Access 97 database.

MORE INFORMATION

A similar problem can occur for Access 2.0 files. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

208419 ACC2000: Error Message When You Link Access 2.0 Tables

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/18/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbinterop kbprb KB310804
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