Vista and Access 2003

[John Baker]

I am running an access 2003 application as a Client Server, with the front
end on users PCs and the _be on the server. Until now all pcs have been
using WindowsXP. A new HP laptop has been purchased with Vista. I had
difficulty initially running the application and relinking the _fe to the
_be on the server -which is normally a straight forward operation with an XP
machine but was unstable with the Vista machine. Eventually after a few
tries I got the link working and the application worked fine for an hour or
so but then just fell over. I have done the same thing a number of times but
the result is just the same. All the latest patches and SP's have been
applied according to the administrators.

Can anyone help me with the possible problems between Vista and Access 2003.

I would like to be able to reformat the new laptop to use WinXP but am told
by the hardware guys that only Vista drivers are available for the laptop.
How frustrating!!!!

John B.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I am running Access 2003 and 2007 alternately in Vista without any problems
similar to what you are experiencing. That said, I think your hardware guys
are misleading you. Most of Vista's driver problems are solved by going to
XP. My machine is a Toshiba, though so that there may be a few things which
support only Vista drivers. Dell originally only supported Vista on both
Inspiron and Dimension machines. When corporate sales lagged, they quickly
reintroduced XP on those 2 lines. I find it difficult to believe that HP
cannot also do so. Remember however, machine operating systems are OEM and
they'd probably have to purchase a new hard drive with XP installed in order
to make it work. That could be expensive.

 

[Klatuu]

My brother was having application issues with Adobe Photoshop on an HP/Vista.
He did exactly what you suggested. He purchased a new drive and installed
XP. Problems solved.

IMHO, it is way too soon to switch to Vista. It need another year or so to
stabilize.

 

[Larry Linson]

IMHO, it is way too soon to switch to Vista. It
need another year or so to stabilize.

But, if you are purchasing from a "major retailer", you may have to change
your plans if you want to get the new machine with Windows XP preloaded.
They do not necessarily offer "custom configuration", only "as packaged".

And, of course, those of us who support clients who don't rely on our advice
for the systems they purchase won't have a choice in the matter...

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[missinglinq via AccessMonster.com]

Excerp from a recent Micro$oft's Knowledge Base article:

When you open or are using a Microsoft Office Access database on a computer
that is running Windows Vista, you may encounter one or more of the following
issues:
• Access appears to stop responding.
• Access responds very slowly.
• Access exits unexpectedly or crashes.
• An event that resembles the following is logged in the Application log:

The full article and MS's suggested workarounds is avaliable at

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=935370

 

[Klatuu]

Must you insist on bringing reality into the mix?
Certainly, you are correct. We don't always have control over our
environments.

 

[David W. Fenton]

But, if you are purchasing from a "major retailer", you may have
to change your plans if you want to get the new machine with
Windows XP preloaded. They do not necessarily offer "custom
configuration", only "as packaged".

Any OEM that is not offering XP as an option is an OEM you shouldn't
be buying from.

And, of course, those of us who support clients who don't rely on
our advice for the systems they purchase won't have a choice in
the matter...

I think it would be wise for all Access consultants to inform their
clients that they will have problems with their Access apps if they
try to run them on Windows Vista right now.

 

[Larry Linson]

On the other hand, I do agree with your advice and have offered the same,
myself.

And, <SIGH OF RELIEF> at the present moment I do not have a client who needs
support for Office 2007 on Vista. But, it appears that there is going to be
an "opportunity" in the not-too-distant future <SIGH, NOT OF RELIEF>.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Larry Linson]

Any OEM that is not offering XP as an option
is an OEM you shouldn't be buying from.

It isn't the OEMs I am talking about, but the sellers of their equipment.

Just recently I called a "major retailer" to see if I could obtain a
particular machine from them, advertised in a package with Vista Home
Premium, configured with Vista Ultimate preinstalled. The person to whom I
was connected in their new computer dep't said, "No. We only sell the
packages we have in inventory; we don't have the ability to order a custom
configuration."

How knowledgeable that sales clerk was, I can't say and it wasn't so
pressing that I tried to pursue it with some manager. I believe the same
chain used to have custom configuration available for at least some
manufacturers.

I have a source from which I can get machines from that same OEM, in custom
configuration, but definitely not a "major retailer".

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I think it would be wise for all Access consultants to inform their
clients that they will have problems with their Access apps if they
try to run them on Windows Vista right now.

I really think that testing is the order of the day. Most of my apps run
fine, or run fine with a little tweaking on Vista. Only a very few cause
major problems.

 

[David W. Fenton]

It isn't the OEMs I am talking about, but the sellers of their
equipment.

Just recently I called a "major retailer" to see if I could obtain
a particular machine from them, advertised in a package with Vista
Home Premium, configured with Vista Ultimate preinstalled. The
person to whom I was connected in their new computer dep't said,
"No. We only sell the packages we have in inventory; we don't have
the ability to order a custom configuration."

How knowledgeable that sales clerk was, I can't say and it wasn't
so pressing that I tried to pursue it with some manager. I
believe the same chain used to have custom configuration available
for at least some manufacturers.

I have a source from which I can get machines from that same OEM,
in custom configuration, but definitely not a "major retailer".

What major OEMs do not have direct ordering on a website?