This isn't a dumb question at all. No question is dumb, everybody was 'dumb' as you say once. I never even knew what Access was once.
Simply open your database as you do using 'shift' then go to Tools > Startup and configure your options there.
This is on Access 2003, I'm sure 2003+ is simmilar.
Hello,
I'm new here, sup?
I'm 18, from the UK in Birmingham. Just googled a topic here and thought I'd register.
It looks like a brilliant comunnity - just for geeks!