Start an Access database in A2003

Question

Hello,

I  used to have a computer with Windows10, and running A2003. All of a sudden the computer dropped dead. The only button that had some effect, was pressing the power button for three seconds to enforce a hard close of the computer.
After reboot the computer lived again for say 5 minutes, and the dropped dead again. This continued the next two days.

So I purchased a new computer (Windows10), installed my A2003, got all my applications from a fresh backup, and could continue with my developments.

However, in the old situation clicking on a database file, e.g. Crypto.mdb, would immediately open that application.

In the new situations, clicking on Crypto.mdb, ONLY opens Access. I then have to go to "Open database", scroll to Crypto.mdb, and open it. From then it functions in the expected way.

But why not directly open the application? What did I miss during installation? It always worked in the way I expected, but not this time.

Thank you.

Imb.

Answer 1

Have you checked the default file associations for MDB files?

Answer 2

Hi,
Access 2003 is not supported on Windows 10. It is out of date since many years.
Normaly that means you have to update your office and get a actual Version which is supported by windows 10.
HTH
Regards Alexander

Answer 3

Have you checked the default file associations for MDB files?

Hi isladogs,

Thank you for the suggestion.

I will check this tomorrow.

Imb.

Answer 4

Access 2003 is not supported on Windows 10. It is out of date since many years.

Hi Alexander,

That is not my question. 

I know that A2003 is not supported any more, but it still works very well on Windows10, and it can be used by all my users with higher Access-versions.

The question is: it worked on my old computer with Windows10, and indirectly on my new computer with Windows10, but not directly.

Imb.

Answer 5

Hi,
Access 2003 is not supported on Windows 10. It is out of date since many years.
Normaly that means you have to update your office and get a actual Version which is supported by windows 10.
HTH
Regards Alexander

Although not officially supported, Access 2003 does still work in Windows 10.

Indeed you can still even use A2000 under Win 10

Having said that, I would still recommend updating but I'm sure IMB has his reasons for not doing so

Answer 6

Hi, 

it is not supported you have to avoid the use of the software. 
If there is a technical reason behind, maybe you can get a answer why this happens, at the end of the you have 
to update.
As long as the manufacturer says: "Don' t use it" you have to listen to the manufacturer.

Regards Alexander

Answer 7

Sorry Alexander but that is nonsense.

Office 2010 was supported until 13 October 2020. That doesn't mean it will now stop working or that I should stop using it.

It is in Microsoft's interest to persuade everyone to upgrade to the latest version of both Windows and Office. Whilst there are many good reasons to upgrade, there are compelling reasons not to do so for many people/organisations.

Answer 8

Have you checked the default file associations for MDB files?

...

I will check this tomorrow.

Hi isladogs,

I have checked the default file associations. All is oke. But still only A2003 opens, not the application.

Tried the rightmouse button "Open with ...":

    - Microsoft Office Access;    Access only opens, not the application.

    - MSACCESS.EXE in map OFFICE11:    Access only opens, not the application.

De-installed A2003, and re-installed A2003: There is no change, Access only opens, not the application.

Placed a shortcut on the "Bureaublad", and dragged the application to it: Access only opens, not the application.

Dblclick the application with Shift key pressed:   Access only opens, not the application.

.

So, whatever I tried, nothing seemed to help.

Imb.

Answer 9

Hi, 

it is not supported you have to avoid the use of the software. 
If there is a technical reason behind, maybe you can get a answer why this happens, at the end of the you have 
to update.
As long as the manufacturer says: "Don' t use it" you have to listen to the manufacturer.

Regards Alexander

Although Microsoft would love you too pay for a new version, there is no real obligation to do so!  I have clients still running Access '97.  IMHO, the latest versions are the most problematic versions to date and thus can't blame anyone for sticking with a version that they are comfortable with.  There also the fact that as developers we often need to sort older versions.  Heck I know developers who continue to use 2003 for all development as it is easier to work with as the ribbon and navigation pane have slowed down productivity.

I don't have a Windows 10 VM with 2003 installed, but I'll see if I can make one to see if I can replicate the behavior.

---

Daniel Pineault, 2010-2019 Microsoft MVP
Professional Support: http://www.cardaconsultants.com
MS Access Tips and Code Samples: http://www.devhut.net

Answer 10

I *speculate* that there is a problem with the DDE connection, or something related to COM at the operating system level. Not much you can do about that with an app that is so many years out of service. You may want to think about upgrading. You need fresh bugs :-)

And related to "but it worked before": if you were to rebuild your new machine just like the old one was many years ago (can you even do that? the old one was probably using Windows 32-bit and this one is 64-bit) and you go through the same upgrade paths (can you even do that? those Windows updates and Office updates are no longer available) then MAYBE you would get the desired behavior.

The pragmatist decides it's time for an upgrade.

---

-Tom. Microsoft Access MVP

Answer 11

I don't have a Windows 10 VM with 2003 installed, but I'll see if I can make one to see if I can replicate the behavior.

Hi Daniel,

A2003 works as expected on my "problematic" Windows10 computer!

Because that computer dropped dead after a couple of minutes, and I wanted to continue with my development work, I purchased a new computer with Windows10. On this new computer I have the problems with opening an Access application.

The reason for using A2003 is that of my 100+ different applications, there are a few instances where the hardware is to "old" to convert to Windows10, thus to A2007. 

But I have also no technical reasons to go to a higher Access version. I make the applications for small organizations, that have not the budget for commercial applications, and they have no web-aspirations. And apart from the web-part, my applications have a far more functionality than any Access version offers.

All is dynamically, without ribbon nor navigation pane, using a few generalized forms. Just by naming the name of anew application, the application is there, working, with about 98% of its future functionality.

As an example, doubleclick on any Date-control on any form in any application opens a calender form, with more functionality than in A2007. 

Imb.