Unrecognized database format problem

[wind54surfer]

Hi all, Happy New Year!

A very strange problem is driving me insane. I am not a novice not an expert but I have been working with Access for many years. I use many computers with my own replicated database to run my business.

I am trying to update 1 computer (have 5 running same database 2 W2000, 1 XP and 2 Windows 7) by getting rid of an old W2000 computer to a Windows 7 Gateway but an odd thing happened, started by getting "Function is not available in expressions in query expressions......" on my "mde".

I have run into this problem before and know to add "comctl32.ocx, comdlg32.ocx, mscomctl.ocx" to no avail, then after long searches in the net I came accross: "adding a Tools/Reference and then undoing it" and while trying this I loaded another simple database to the new computer and won't open, all I get is: "unrecognized database format".

There is nothing wrong with the database(s) that I added (tried many-all working on same version of Access 2003 (SP3)) and they all get the same "unrecognized database format", the only difference to the one that gives me the " Function is not recognized....." is that they are "mdb" instead of my "mde" one.

Sorry for the long post but hard to explain in few words, hope is clear enough.

Does anybody have a clue what could cause this?
Any help is really appreciated.

I forgot to add that I reinstalled W7 twice , the second time I formatted the disk to make sure starting clean.

 

[stopher]

Here's a complete stab in the dark (because I vaguely remember it worked for me in the past - no idea why):

Have you loaded Microsoft Office yet?

 

[wind54surfer]

Here's a complete stab in the dark (because I vaguely remember it worked for me in the past - no idea why):

Have you loaded Microsoft Office yet?

Thanks for your response.

I specified I was running Access 2003 (SP3), and I did say I got an error on my "mde" (it would have to be after it opened), there will be no way to open a database without Office, I think.

Thanks anyway!

PS: It remind it me of an old "joke?"; yes the computer is plugged and the power is on.

 

[Rabbie]

It can be worth re-installing Office. I have seen occasions when the original installation has got itself corrupted. The fact that you have issues with both your .mde and .mdb suggests Office may have problems.

 

[wind54surfer]

It can be worth re-installing Office. I have seen occasions when the original installation has got itself corrupted. The fact that you have issues with both your .mde and .mdb suggests Office may have problems.

Thanks for your response.

3 times I had to reinstall office, following every time I reinstalled windows.
I am searching to no end, and I am starting to wonder if the windows version I have might have something to do with it. (W7 Home Premium)

In my Macbook (with Parallels) I am running W7 Professional without a glitch.

Anybody running Access 2003 (SP3) on W7 Home Premium?

Thanks again!

 

[stopher]

I specified I was running Access 2003 (SP3), and I did say I got an error on my "mde" (it would have to be after it opened), there will be no way to open a database without Office, I think.

The problem I had was that if I installed Access 2003 from a standalone install (which I'd purchased separately from the Office suite) then I had a problem with some string functions. But if I installed the Office suite first then everything was ok.

Have you checked your references (I think you implied you had)? Are there any showing missing? Again a wild stab.

I've loaded Access 2003 (without SP3) on Windows 7 Home Premium. If you'd like to send a problem d/b I'll test it. That might at least narrow things down.

Chris

 

[wind54surfer]

I just realized that W7 Home is not part of the problem, I tested on another computer by loading W7 Home/Office 2003 and everything works perfectly.

And as far as testing the small sample database that gives me the "Unrecognized database format" error, is definitely not corrupt, I tested it in 3 other computers with different Windows configurations and works OK.

Can't figure out what's happening.

Thanks again Chris!

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Ah - this rings bells, I think

A2003 has to run in compliance mode, or whatever its called, i think, on W7.

I have A2007 and A2003 installed on a W7 machine, and I "think" there are problems with 2003 apps. Its a few weeks since I've tried, so its a bit hazy, though.

 

[wind54surfer]

Ah - this rings bells, I think

A2003 has to run in compliance mode, or whatever its called, i think, on W7.

I have A2007 and A2003 installed on a W7 machine, and I "think" there are problems with 2003 apps. Its a few weeks since I've tried, so its a bit hazy, though.

Thanks for your response.

What do you mean "compliance mode"?
Do you mean "XP mode", that is only available on W7 Professional, I think.

I hope you can remember more.
Thanks again.

 

[wind54surfer]

OK, for future reference (no pun intended), the file that was missing was:
MSCOMCT2.OCX

I read in the net that it had to be added to System32 but for some reason every time I added it it disappeared , finally I added it to SysWOW64 (and then automatically showed in System32) and it worked!!!!

Success finally!

Thanks to all that tried to help, have a great 2011!

 

[smig]

If I rememebr correctly mscomctl.ocx is newer version then mscomct2.ocx