Can't open 2 files: "Could not lock 'Admin'; file already in use."

[Josh Grisham]

I can't open more than one Access file at one time on this
PC. The same goes for almost 50% of new PCs here where I work.

If I try to open more than one file at one time (I.E. try
to open db2.mdb while db1.mdb is already open), I receive
this error:

Could not lock 'Admin'; file already in use.

This even happens on Access files stored locally and not
shared. Simply put, I can't open 2 files at once.

Because of this, I am assuming that the problem is with a
program setting or possibly even a security setting on the
directory

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\

If it is a setting, I have not found it in the "Options"
menu. (And no it is not the "Shared"/"Exclusive" setting)
My guess, if it was a setting, would be something to do
with the values in one of the following files:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\ACWZDAT.MDT

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\ACWZUSR.MDT

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\SYSTEM.MDW


Or, as I said above, is it a security setting on the actual
\Office\ directory that is causing this problem?

Please let me know ASAP!

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Josh Grisham

 

[Josh Grisham]

I may have figured this out --

It works fine for the people with Power User or
Administrator access to the directory (because they have
create and write capabilities that normal "User" do not have).

Is there any file(s) in particular that I could tell them
to allow create/write access to instead of just having to
make the entire directory write-able by the user? I have a
feeling I will have a hard time convincing Information
Security to let us have write permission to the entire
\Office\ directory.

Thanks again!

 

[Joan Wild]

I believe it's the system.mdw file that is causing you grief. It needs to
create a ldb file and if the user doesn't have create permission on the
folder, they can't create the ldb and the mdw is opened exclusively.

I suggest you copy the system.mdw file to a user's folder - perhaps
c:\documents and settings\username\application data\microsoft\access\

The use start, run wrkgadm.exe to join this system.mdw file as the default.

(If you are using 2002, use Tools, security, workgroup administrator).
Actually a better option, if you are using 2002, is to rename the existing
system.mdw file and open Access - it should create a new system.mdw in a
folder for the logged in user.

 

[Josh Grisham]

Very informative, and thank you!

Unfortunately, using C:\Documents and
Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\Microsoft\Access\
would not be a fool-proof solution, as some of these PCs
are shared by more than one user.

However, using

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access\

Will be perfect!

Also, for our particular install of Access, instead of
running the Workgroup Administrator file, you can just edit
the following registry string value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Access\Jet\4.0\Engines\"SystemDB"


= "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Access\SYSTEM.MDW"

Note: If the file provided is not found by access, it will
use "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\SYSTEM.MDW"
by default.

Thank you again for the help! Your comments have been
great! Hopefully my comments will be able to help out
additionally to anyone else who runs into this problem.

Sincerely,
Josh Grisham

 

[Joan Wild]

I would think that most people would reverse your statement. i.e. "Instead
of editing the registry, you can just run the workgroup administrator."

But to each his own

--
Joan Wild
Microsoft Access MVP


Also, for our particular install of Access, instead of
running the Workgroup Administrator file, you can just edit
the following registry string value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Access\Jet\4.0\Engines\"Sys
temDB"