Database or object is read only???

[RichO]

Been using XP all this time, just got a new computer with Windows 7. Still using old Access 2000, not my call to update as this is the decision of the guy who owns the database.

Anyways, I opened Access for the first time, just a blank database so I can set up the user account. When I go to Tools > Security > User and Group Accounts and try to assign a password to Admin, I get the error message that it cannot update because the database is read only.

Where did this come from? I have never seen this message before, and the person who owns the database has a couple computers with Windows 7 that I have set this up on and did not run into this issue.

I realize that there can be some compatibility issues with Windows 7 and Access 2000 but it has worked on other Windows 7 computers, and not using the virtual XP mode.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[vbaInet]

What is the exact error message?

 

[RichO]

 

[vbaInet]

Have you got read/write permissions on the directory where your database is located? Check with your Network Admins and perform the check yourself.

 

[RichO]

Have you got read/write permissions on the directory where your database is located? Check with your Network Admins and perform the check yourself.

Absolutely. I am the only user/admin of this computer. It's my home computer.

 

[vbaInet]

Are you actually opening your Access 2000 db in Access 2000 or Access 2007 or 2010?

 

[RichO]

Created in Access 2000, being opened in Access 2000.

Actually, it has nothing to do with the actual database but rather, Access itself. When I open Access and create a blank database the same thing happens.

 

[vbaInet]

It can only be pointing to permissions to read/write to your database. Can you actually create a new text file in the same directory, write some text and try to save it. If that works, you need to look for the System.mdw file and change the permissions there.

 

[RichO]

Well, I can do anything to the database itself, such as create and write to tables, etc. so that part of the DB is not read only.

I looked for system.mdw and could not find it.

There is a registry key that says C:\Windows\SysWOW64\system.mdw but no such file exists in that folder, and I am viewing hidden files as well.

 

[vbaInet]

The following command will give you the location of your System.mdw file:

application.SysCmd(acSysCmdGetWorkgroupFile)

Run it tell me what it comes up with.

 

[RichO]

OK I found location of the system file.

What I did was copy the system file from my old XP computer to the directory on the new Windows 7 computer and now all of my user names are intact and it seems to work!

Otherwise, what could I have done with the existing system file if I weren't able to copy the old one?

 

[vbaInet]

Glad to hear.

Not a lot. You would have had to look for your original System.mdw or create a blank db, import all your objects into it and recreate the users and permissions.

 

[RichO]

Even with a blank DB it would not let me set up user accounts so I'm glad this way worked.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[vbaInet]

Always good to have backups. Good thing you did.