Whenever I try and open any of my Access databases, I get an error message:

'Couldn't find file 'system.mdw'. This file is required for startup.'

This has happened since I installed a new application which is based on
Access though I don't know if that's a coincidence.

I had a look on a colleague's PC for this file but it couldn't be located at
all.

I'm using Office 2007 with Windows Vista.

Will reinstalling Access solve this problem?

Help with this will be much appreciated?

Many thanks.

Bagheera wrote:
> Whenever I try and open any of my Access databases, I get an error
> message:
>
> 'Couldn't find file 'system.mdw'. This file is required for startup.'
>
> This has happened since I installed a new application which is based
> on Access though I don't know if that's a coincidence.
>
> I had a look on a colleague's PC for this file but it couldn't be
> located at all.
>
> I'm using Office 2007 with Windows Vista.
>
> Will reinstalling Access solve this problem?
>
> Help with this will be much appreciated?
>
> Many thanks.

Actually just opening Access 2007 (from the Start menu, not by
double-clicking a file) should fix it. At least until you open that other
program again.

When you have multiple versions of Access on your PC the last one opened
will register itself as the default. Basically you need to give up opening
files by double-clicking unless you want to install a utility that decides
which version should be used.

--
Rick Brandt, Microsoft Access MVP
Email (as appropriate) to...
RBrandt at Hunter dot com

Thank you so much - it worked and I'm sending you a big hug with this reply.

It takes a bit of time to launch Access afresh each time but the main thing
is that it works.

I hereby give you my Hero of the Week award.



"Rick Brandt" wrote:

> Bagheera wrote:
> > Whenever I try and open any of my Access databases, I get an error
> > message:
> >
> > 'Couldn't find file 'system.mdw'. This file is required for startup.'
> >
> > This has happened since I installed a new application which is based
> > on Access though I don't know if that's a coincidence.
> >
> > I had a look on a colleague's PC for this file but it couldn't be
> > located at all.
> >
> > I'm using Office 2007 with Windows Vista.
> >
> > Will reinstalling Access solve this problem?
> >
> > Help with this will be much appreciated?
> >
> > Many thanks.
>
> Actually just opening Access 2007 (from the Start menu, not by
> double-clicking a file) should fix it. At least until you open that other
> program again.
>
> When you have multiple versions of Access on your PC the last one opened
> will register itself as the default. Basically you need to give up opening
> files by double-clicking unless you want to install a utility that decides
> which version should be used.
>
> --
> Rick Brandt, Microsoft Access MVP
> Email (as appropriate) to...
> RBrandt at Hunter dot com
>
>
>