Access Network File Sharing Problem

[BusyGirl]

Hi can anyone help

I am running a small access database over a wireless network which all worked fine (still does on 1 wired/3 wireless) with not too many problems total of 6 machines (5 wireless/1 wired). I have just replaced two machine as they were getting a bit old 3years. But these two new machines do not seem to have full rights to the access database, in that I can open the database and view records but when you add data you get a Disk Error message. I can open and share word documents etc but not the database – if I reverse this set-up I get the same problem the wired computer can open and save word documents but again not the database - what am I missing!!!

SET-UP = All machines have Windows XP Pro and Office 2003 with all windows/office updates done, all connected to the same workgroup etc. Two new machines are Dell with Dell Wireless adapter. No server just workgroup and database in a shared folder on one computer which is hard wired to the Netgear wireless router. I have not run any network wizards and I don’t think I need to, just sharing the folder should be enough? Windows is managing the dell wireless adapters, file and print sharing is enabled, other computers can print to this computer, but I just can’t get the database to share correctly – I have also checked “References” and all looks fine.

 

[Simon_MT]

The new PCs seem to have Read Only rights assigned, have you tried changing raw data and what are the shared folder's security settings on the new PCs?

 

[boblarson]

Just a quick word of warning. You do NOT, I repeat, you do NOT want to run an Access database on a wireless network UNLESS (and I stress this part) you have a copy of the front-end on EACH of the users machines.

Access is not at all stable when working on a wide-area network and even worse on a wireless network. If a user is connected to the database when working in it and a network disruption occurs, no matter how slight, it can corrupt your database and render things irrecoverable.

So, what SHOULD work is to use a separate copy of the front end on each user's computer, so if they loose connection and their front-end corrupts, it doesn't affect anyone else.

 

[BusyGirl]

Thanks for the warning - the database was split but i had more problems then and less problems now i have re-joined it

 

[boblarson]

Thanks for the warning - the database was split but i had more problems then and less problems now i have re-joined it

What kind of problems did you experience. I would think an irrecoverable corruption would be a "problem" that would trump any of those.

 

[BusyGirl]

This was not a database that I had written, and it was badly written, there was also 6 different front ends each with its own problems, the easiest for me was to re-join it, in order for me to make all the changes and additions they asked me to do. Today I took your advice and have hard wired the initial problem pc’s (Going back to my original positing the problem was with the “Dell Wireless Adapters” which this client ordered, after I hard wired them they were fine and sharing the database was no problem). I have convinced the client this is better, so I now have 4 wired and 2 wireless which I will change over once the longer cables come in. Thanks again for your help!