To run an Access database, you need Access installed. You can obtain a license to distribute the runtime version of Access by purchasing the "Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System". The Access runtime will "run" an Access database but it will not allow any development. For that, you would need the standard retail version of Access installed.
There are many problems associated with creating and distributing Access applications. Search here and in the Microsoft kb for lots of material.
To "experience" your application being run by the Access runtime rather than the retail version, create a shortcut to start your db and follow it with the /runtime switch. This will simulate the runtime environment. Two things that you almost certainly will need to change in your db:
1. You must create custom menus.
2. You must have adequate error handling (no macros). Unhandled runtime errors will cause your application to simply close down when under the control of the runtime engine.
