Access Locks Up

[Todd Heiks]

Can someone point me in the right direction regarding MS Access lock-ups?

I see posts about people experiencing the issue but no solutions, other then
upgrade.

My access database freezes for 6 - 9 minutes about two times a week. About
two times a day it freezes for 1-2 minutes. The long freezes happen during
a simple query that usually executes in less then a second.

I use an Access 97 mdb with 1 user/application. The application is a VB app
that runs continuously. The app holds the connection to the db open all the
time. The app is restarted about every two weeks. The app handles requests
from clients at the rate of 2000 - 4000 per 10 hour period. The app has
been running for about 10 years with no issues. The request volume is about
half of what it was two years ago, thanks to the economy, but I have not had
a problem until now. The db only handles select queries only. Data is
appended manually about once per year.

Yes, I would love to convert to SQL.

I would appreciate any insight that you could share.

I have cleaned, packed, and recreated to no avail.

Regards,
Todd

 

[Danny J. Lesandrini]

Todd:

Great job on outlining your problem, that really helps.

My first thought was inspired by a problem I have had recently: Add Ins.

Check out your Add In list and remove anything that's not needed. This
may include uninstalling the Visual Soruce Safe stuff, if that had been
installed. My app was getting stuck with more regularity until I cleaned
out the AddIns.

Another couple things that may seem odd, but are worth a try are these:

1) Delete all the cookies and run the Disk Cleanup system tool
2) Remove any printers from the list that you don't need.

I can't explain why these help ... at least I can't explain it well, but when
there exists a performance issue I can't otherwise explain, I do these
things. For example, the printer issue applies to printers that no longer
exist on the network. If you keep the reference, Windows does this
behind-the-scenes polling thing, looking for it. Someone else put me onto
the cookies issue. I scoffed, but did it anyhow. It worked for me.

 

[Todd Heiks]

This is a possibility. The users have rights to their boxes.
What are the issues with AVG?

 

[Todd Heiks]

Thanks, Ill give it a try and let you know.

Todd:

Great job on outlining your problem, that really helps.

My first thought was inspired by a problem I have had recently: Add Ins.

Check out your Add In list and remove anything that's not needed. This
may include uninstalling the Visual Soruce Safe stuff, if that had been
installed. My app was getting stuck with more regularity until I cleaned
out the AddIns.

Another couple things that may seem odd, but are worth a try are these:

1) Delete all the cookies and run the Disk Cleanup system tool
2) Remove any printers from the list that you don't need.

I can't explain why these help ... at least I can't explain it well, but
when
there exists a performance issue I can't otherwise explain, I do these
things. For example, the printer issue applies to printers that no longer
exist on the network. If you keep the reference, Windows does this
behind-the-scenes polling thing, looking for it. Someone else put me onto
the cookies issue. I scoffed, but did it anyhow. It worked for me.

 

[Todd Heiks]

Mmm. . . .

Any user with access to the network share could point their AV software at
the share and scan it.

So how would I go about polling the share to see who is accessing it?

Thanks,
Todd

 

[Todd Heiks]

No AVG on the servers.

When I started having issues, I spun up a new VM just to host the app and
another one to host the db.
That's what made me think that it had something to do with the db.

People still run MS Access? Right?


Todd

 

[David W. Fenton]

Are you or anybody on your network running AVG ver 8 anti virus?

Everybody turns off MDB scanning in any AV software they are
running, right?

 

[David W. Fenton]

An update to Ver 8 reroutes some network traffic through the virus
scanner. If Access is using the same ports that got hijacked, you
have to wait for the virus scanner to check the network packets
for viruses. Slows down apps. Enough to make them freeze up.

Even if you turn off MDB scanning?

I use AVG and many of my clients do (we all finally got completely
sick of Symantec's garbage and McAfee's crap), and I have them
uniformly configured to *not* scan MDBs. Is the problem you're
outlining independent of that?

And does it only matter if you're pulling the data across the wire?
That might explain why none of my clients and I have encountered the
problem, as none of my clients using AVG run their database with a
server.

 

[aaron.kempf]

upsizing to SQL Server is quite easy actually..

Nobody in their right mind uses Jet for anything, I mean are you
retarded?

-Aaron

 

[Todd Heiks]

Aaron-

Thats what I thought you would say, but I'm not sure that qualifies as
insight.

-Todd

upsizing to SQL Server is quite easy actually..

Nobody in their right mind uses Jet for anything, I mean are you
retarded?

-Aaron

 

[aaron.kempf]

bs, I mean come on, Chris

I don't see MS Access anywhere at www.olapreport.com/market.htm

-Aaron

 

[aaron.kempf]

well-- sorry, kid-- but it is the solution!

it runs faster, development is _EASIER_ and you get better tools.
And your end users will love the stability / performance.

And it's _FREE_.

-Aaron

 

[Todd Heiks]

Dude-

Are you like the Don Rickles of newsgroups?
I know SQL is the way to go. Everyone knows that. Even the mentally
challenged that you previously referred to know.
Unfortunately, SQL is not an option for this client.
You seem to be all over the newsgroups. Can you lend some of your time /
intellect to the solution of the problem?

Regards,
Todd


well-- sorry, kid-- but it is the solution!

it runs faster, development is _EASIER_ and you get better tools.
And your end users will love the stability / performance.

And it's _FREE_.

-Aaron

 

[aaron.kempf]

SQL is free and it's easier.

lose the premises and the assumptions.. and no-- everyone in this
group clings to an obsolete database engine-- because dipshits like
Tony Toews try to scare people into sticking with the sinking ship...
(JET).

-Aaron

 

[aaron.kempf]

the solution:

MOVE TO SQL

Jet corrupts, it crashes-- it's not SMP aware, and it doesn't work in
X64

-Aaron

 

[BruceM]

Aaron doesn't offer specific details, just rants.

 

[aaron.kempf]

Bruce;

Oh, it's BWUCE!!!
Why don't you learn to prevent _ALL_ jet corruption, until then STFU
script-kiddie

-Aaron

 

[David W. Fenton]

An update about 4 weeks ago on AVG 8 reroutes some network traffic
through surf shield so it scans the data packets for viruses.
Doesn't matter if you already had it set not to scan mdb files.
If your Access app is using those same ports that get rerouted to
surf shield to check if they're safe, your app will freeze while
surf shield scans the data and could lock up.

Is there any documentation anywhere about which ports are involved?
And is it only happening when you're retrieving an MDB across a
network connection?

I don't think it matters if you're only pulling data. I think
it's specific ports that are affected and if Access uses those
ports, it's going to freeze while surf shield scans.

What if you turn off these settings:

- Scan for Tracking Cookies
- Scan Potentially Unwanted Programs and Spyware

If you're not using IE as your web browser and use some other
product (like Spybot Search and Destroy or AdAware) to provide
spyware protection, you won't in any significant danger of
infection.

It is annoying to me that I can't just turn off the Spyware
"protection," as it's not something I have any need for at all.

 

[aaron.kempf]

I disagree.
You also need a firewall-- or router--

A lot of people connect directly to the internet, and because MS is
too busy working on the 'next great version of windows' they never
seem to plug holes in their existing products.

I used to do intrusion detection (datamarts) at Microsoft.. Even in
Redmond-- we couldn't crack down on malware-- AT ALL-- until Windows
XP SP2 came out.
This turned the firewall on by default, right?

-Aaron

PS - 'not using IE'-- uh.. none of the other browsers have -HALF- of
the functionality of IE.. so I really don't understand what you're
talking about in 'other browsers'

 

[Michel Walsh]

Access 2003 runs well on my Vista-64 bits system. What have you in mind when
you say Access does not work in "X64"?


Vanderghast, Access MVP



the solution:

MOVE TO SQL

Jet corrupts, it crashes-- it's not SMP aware, and it doesn't work in
X64

-Aaron