You may receive the "Microsoft Access has encountered a problem and needs to close" error message when you try to create a new database or to open an existing database in Access 2002 (873266)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2002
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry



This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to create a new database or to open an existing database by using Microsoft Access 2002, Access 2002 may quit unexpectedly. Additionally, you may receive the following error message:
Microsoft Access has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you redirect the Application Data folder to a different folder on your computer by using a Group Policy. Access 2002 cannot recognize the target folder if the target folder name is not Application Data. The Application Data folder name must be used in the folder redirection path for the Application Data folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Office XP. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307841 How to obtain the latest Office XP service pack

If you continue to experience this problem after you install Office XP SP3, you must modify the Group Policy and the folder redirection path of the Application Data folder. You do this so that the target folder name is Application Data. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Open Group Policy Editor of the domain or of the organizational unit that you want to manage.
  2. In the left pane of the Group Policy window, expand User Configuration, expand Windows Settings, and then expand Folder Redirection.
  3. Right-click Application Data, and then click Properties.
  4. In the Application Data Properties dialog box, click the Target tab.

    Make sure that the target folder is named Application Data in the Target folder location box.

    For example, the folder redirection path looks similar to the following:
    \\<server name>\<shared folder path>\Application Data

    Note The placeholder <server name> is a placeholder for the name of your computer. The placeholder <shared folder path> is a placeholder for the path of the folder that is shared on your computer.
  5. Click OK, and then close the Group Policy window.
  6. Log off, and then log on to your computer as a user of the domain or of the organizational unit.
  7. Start Access 2002.
  8. Open the Northwind.mdb sample database.

    Notice that you can open the Northwind.mdb sample database successfully.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Steps to reproduce the problem

  1. On the computer that is the domain controller for your domain, locate the folder that must contain the target folder for the Application Data folder.
  2. Right-click the folder that you located in step 1, and then click Properties.
  3. Click the Sharing tab, click the Share this folder option, and then click Caching.
  4. In the Caching Settings dialog box, click to select the Allow caching of files in this shared folder check box, click Automatic Caching for Documents in the Setting drop-down list, and then click OK.

    For more information about creating redirected folders, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    274443 How to dynamically create security-enhanced redirected folders by using folder redirection in Windows 2000 and in Windows Server 2003

  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  7. In Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools.
  8. In the Administrative Tools window, double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.
  9. In the Active Directory Users and Computers window, right-click the Active Directory container of the domain or of the organizational unit that you want to manage, and then click Properties.
  10. Click the Group Policy tab.
  11. Click Default Domain Policy in the Group Policy Object Links column, and then click Edit.

    Note The Default Domain Policy Group Policy object is used as an example. You can also create a new policy to apply the settings for all the users in the domain or in the organizational unit.
  12. In the left pane of the Group Policy window, expand User Configuration, expand Windows Settings, and then expand Folder Redirection.
  13. Right-click Application Data, and then click Properties.
  14. In the Application Data Properties dialog box, click the Target tab, and then click Basic - Redirect everyone's folder to the same location in the Setting list.
  15. Type the following path in the Target folder location box:

    \\<server name>\<shared folder path>\ApplicationData

    Note The placeholder <server name> is a placeholder for the name of your computer. The placeholder <shared folder path> is a placeholder for the path of the folder that you share on your computer.
  16. Click OK, and then close the Group Policy window.
  17. Log off, and then log on to your computer as a user of the domain or of the organizational unit.

    Make sure that the following registry value contains the path that you entered in step 15:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\AppData
  18. Start Access 2002.
  19. Try to open the Northwind.mdb sample database.

    Notice that you cannot open the Northwind.mdb sample database successfully. Also, you receive the error message that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

REFERENCES

For additional information about folder redirection, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/professional/help
/default.asp?url=/windows2000/en/professional/help/Folder.htm

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

232692 Folder redirection feature in Windows

242557 Registry settings for folder redirection in Windows

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/5/2006
Keywords:kbGPO kbtshoot kberrmsg kbprb KB873266 kbAudDeveloper
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