Not sure exactly what you mean here by "changing existing database format."
A2003 can use the A2000 mdb file format, or the 2002/2003 mdb file format.
If you want to be able to open it with A2000 as well, you must not convert
it to the 2002/2003 format.
Also not clear about "doesn't respond." Access 2003 has some security
mis-features that might be causing code not to run? On the Tools menu, go to
Macros | Macro Security, and set it to Low.
If that's not the issue, perhaps there is a problem with the binary code,
and it needs a decompile. Try this sequence in order:
1. Uncheck the boxes under:
Tools | Options | General | Name AutoCorrect
In Access 2007, it's:
Office Button | Access Options | Current Database | Name AutoCorrect
Explanation of why:
http://allenbrowne.com/bug-03.html
2. Compact the database to get rid of this junk:
Tools | Database Utilities | Compact/Repair
or in Access 2007:
Office Button | Manage | Compact/Repair
3. Close Access. Make a backup copy of the file. Decompile the database by
entering something like this at the command prompt while Access is not
running. It is all one line, and include the quotes:
"c:\Program Files\Microsoft office\office\msaccess.exe" /decompile
"c:\MyPath\MyDatabase.mdb"
4. Open Access (holding down the Shift key if you have any startup code),
and compact again.
5. Open a code window.
Choose References from the Tools menu.
Uncheck any references you do not need.
For a list of the ones you typically need in your version of Access, see:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-38.html
6. Still in the code window, choose Compile from the Debug menu.
Fix any errors, and repeat until it compiles okay.
7. Still in the code window, choose Options on the Tools menu. On the
General tab, make sure Error Trapping is set to:
Break on Unhandled Errors
and the Compile on Demand is unchecked.
At this point, you should have a database where the name-autocorrect errors
are gone, the indexes are repaired, inconsistencies between the text- and
compiled-versions of the code are fixed, reference ambiguities are resolved,
the code syntax is compilable, and the VBA options are set to show errors
and avoid this kind of corruption.
If it is still a problem, the next step would be to get Access to rebuild
the database for you. Follow the steps for the first symptom in this
article:
Recovering from Corruption
at:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-47.html