Access 2000 MDE cannot be opened on users' XP systems

[IrishTyke]

I have recently uploaded an Access 2K MDE to a number of my colleagues, all
of whom have Access 2000 installed. When it is sent to them by email, Outlook
greys out and disables the file after recognising there is code in the
attachment. When downloaded from the Web, it can be installed but when trying
to run the MDE the User's system asserts that the file cannot be opened
because it was created outside the network. I would be most grateful for any
help, as SOME of vmy colleagues are unable to access my MDE.

 

[Biz Enhancer]

Sounds like you are dealing with a controlled network. Talk to your network
administrator regarding the removal of security or see if you can upload it
to a shared drive on the network through VPN if you are outside of the
network.

Hope it helps,

Nick.

 

[IrishTyke]

That's a cunning plan Joseph. Many thanks for that - I'll give it a try.

Regarding Biz's suggestion, there is no network involved and there is no
security set on the file, so I'm puzzled as to why the user is prevented from
opening the file. They had been able to open earlier versions of the file
without any problem (just a week or so back). I wondered if it is a Firewall
or Windows XP security related problem. The message displayed is something
like:

"You cannot access this file as it was created on another system."

I'm baffled!!!

 

[IrishTyke]

Hi Gran,

Thanks for you help again.

I'll give that a try ASAP.

What is happening is this:

- They can download the mde file from the Web OK
- They can save the mde file on their system OK
- When they try to run the file, they are prompted with the Unknown
Publisher dialogue but when they click on open they receive the following
message:

"Microsoft Access cannot open this file. This file is located outside your
Intranet or on an untrusted site. Microsoft Access will not open the file due
to potential security problems. To open this file copy it onto your machine
...."

Despite what the message says, the file is definitely loaded on the User's
machine.

Does this fit the bill with your remedy Gran?

 

[IrishTyke]

Gran,

I don't have an UNBLOCK option when I right-click on the MDE file. Is this
because I don't have SP2?

 

[Rick Brandt]

Gran,

I don't have an UNBLOCK option when I right-click on the MDE file. Is
this because I don't have SP2?

It would not be an option on the right-click menu. You would open
"Properties" from the right-click menu and then the Unblock button would be
on the General tab of the properties sheet, but you are correct in that you
would not have that option if you do not have SP2 for WinXP installed.

 

[IrishTyke]

Thanks Rick.

I've just logged in to the MS XP site and it tells me I already have SP2
installed.

Despite this, I don't have an UNBLOCK option within the Properties General
tab.

Any ideas my friend?

Anthony Judge.

 

[IrishTyke]

Wonderful.

That explains that then.

For the first time in several days, I feel confident about getting this baby
fixed.

Now I need the Users to come back to me so we can try it out.

Many thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[IrishTyke]

Hi Gran,

My first User has just got back to me to say that your remedy worked a treat.

Many, many thanks for this help. You're a genius.

All I need to do now is find out why my newly installed Access 2000 mde
files are not being recognised by Access 2003 and can only be run if I
install Access 2000 in a different directory. Any more brilliant suggestions
while you#re on a roll?

 

[IrishTyke]

I'm pretty sure it was a 'doohickey' icon.

They all have Office 2003 installed in a directory within Program Files
named OfficeXXXX (where XXX represents some numbers).

If I install Office 2000, it throws it into a directory named Office within
Program Files, after which my mde runs ok.

 

[IrishTyke]

Then it's missing registry entries. On their Office 2003 computers (the ones
that don't have Office 2K installed) in Windows Explorer go to Tools | Folder
Options, tab to File Types, scroll down to MDE. It should be listed as
Microsoft Office Access MDE Database and set to open with Microsoft Office
Access 2003. If MDE isn't listed you can add it as a new file type, but it
would be better to have a Windows admin log in and reinstall Office 2003.
Some of the registry settings didn't get set on the first install and there's
no telling what else didn't get installed correctly, so it would be safer to
just reinstall it.

 

[IrishTyke]

OK. Many thanks Gran

I've been reading about Access Runtime files on these discussion groups. Is
it possible for someone without MS Access to run my MDE file if they have the
required run-time files supplied by me without me having to visit them?

 

[IrishTyke]

Many thanks Gran.

I certainly owe you a beer.

Yes, but you need to have a license to distribute those runtime files. You
can get the Access 2003 unlimited runtime license from the Access Developer
Extensions that comes with most versions of Visual Studio Tools for Office
(VSTO). And if you're not there supervising the installation, make sure a
Windows admin is, because users don't always make the best app installers.

Remember that Office 2003 requires Windows 2000 SP3 or later, or Windows XP,
so don't let them install on a Windows 98 computer.