Re-Post! Access Install Problem - Plz HELP!

[johnnymac43]

I joined this forum last week hoping for help on a "wierd" problem, but got 0 replies! A fuller explanation of my original post (below) follows:

ORIGINAL POST
After installing Access 97 on 2 PCs that already have Access 2000, using the method suggested by Microsoft, all is OK on one while the other gives the message "A system error occurred, or there isn't enough free memory to start Microsoft Access. Close unneeded programs and try again.".

PCs are running Win98 SE and have 256 Meg of memory. Any ideas?

EXPLANATION
The Microsoft advice on how to install Access 97 and 2000 on the same machine is at

http://support.microsoft.com/webcasts/.

It is extremely detailed and easy to follow. We managed to achieve success on one PC and experienced a problem with the other near-identical machine.

THE PROBLEM
When I attempt to start Access 97 it displays the Splash screen, then the message (above). The only option available is 'OK'. This closes Access - end of story! Uninstalling and re-installing Access 97 makes no difference.

WHY ACCESS 97?
As we have expanded our client base we have discovered many potential clients who have no intention of moving from Access 97 in the near future. In order to support them we need Access 97 on our PCs. Judging from the number of Access 97 posts in these forums, I would expect that many of you would be in a similar position. I just hope that someone out there has some idea what I should try next.

Here's hoping!

John

 

[BillPower]

What I do when I need to use prior versions of Access, Excel etc. is not to actually install them, but run them from the Install CD. One drawback of this is that loading and working with files does take noticeably longer. It might be possible to speed things up by copying the office 97 install disk, if you've got the space, to your hard drive and run it from there.

Before attempting this, do a full uninstall of Office/Access 97. You will still have to install certain files to run the prior version of office from your CD or HD, make sure you save these to a different directory to your Office 2000 installation. Hope what I've said makes sense.

 

[johnnymac43]

Thanks billpower. I got mixed results.

The un-install of Office 97 also removed some files needed by Access 2000 (not the exe - I had renamed it as recommended by MS). Fortunately, Access 2000 did an auto re-install from my CD image files.

Access 97 from the CD wants system.mdw in c:\windows\system. There is no system.mdw on the CD and it wont work with the later one used (in Program Files\...) by Access 2000.

John

 

[BillPower]

Hi John,

I've put a copy of my system.mdw on

http://www.wpower.fsbusiness.co.uk/

in system.zip, extract it to c:\windows\system, never know it might work. Will leave it there until the weekend.