Problem opening database file via wirelss home network

B

Bob Lucas

My home network comprises:

Medion desktop computer, running Win XP Media edition, SP3
HP laptop computer, running Win XP Professional, SP3
Buffalo Wireless router and ADSL modem
Microsoft Office 2000 Professional on both computers

I use the Zone Alarm firewall on my laptop (free to home users). The
home network is in the "Trusted" zone. I have McAfee security suite
(including the McAfee firewall) on the laptop. Windows Firewall has
been turned off on both computers.

I am the only user of this small home network. The desktop computer is
hard-wired to the Buffalo wireless router. My laptop computer connects
to the network (and to the Internet) via the wireless router.

The "My documents" folder and its sub-folders on both computers have
been enabled for network sharing. The sharing permissions also allow
network users to change files. When I use the laptop computer, the "My
Documents" folder on the desktop is Mapped Drive "Z:\" on the laptop. I
have never experienced problems opening, editing or saving data files in
the "My Documents" folder - either directly or via the network
connection. .

I use an Access database to maintain the membership records for a local
society. I used Access 95 originally to create the database - and
converted it many years ago to Access 2000. The database file on my
desktop computer is located in the C:\Documents and Settings\[My User
Name]\My Documents/Access folder - which equates to Z:\Access on the
laptop.

Until recently, I could use either computer to open this database file
on either computer, to maintain the membership records. I can still
open and edit this database file on the desktop. However, when I try to
open the file from my laptop computer via the wireless network, I
receive the following error message:

"The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file
'Z:\Access\filename.mdb'. It is already opened exclusively by another
user, or you need permission to view its data.'" It occurred to me that
the database file might be corrupted, so I backed up the file on the
desktop - and used the Compact & Repair option. Compact & Repair made
no difference whatsoever.

The latest Windows and Office updates have been installed on both
computers. The problem has occurred very recently, but I do not know
whether it is related to an Office update or to the upgrade from Win XP
SP2 to SP3.

The problem only affects this particular database file - and I can still
use either computer to open all other database files on the desktop.
This suggests that the problem is related to the particular database
file, as opposed to my home network, Access 2000 or the firewall
configuration. The Access help files are about as useful as a chocolate
teapot - so I don't know what to do next.

I shall appreciate any suggestions.
 
D

Douglas J. Steele

Unfortunately, you should never use a wireless network with Access.

Access is extremely sensitive to network issues, and, at least presently,
wireless networks just aren't good enough to use.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP

(no private e-mails, please)


Bob Lucas said:
My home network comprises:

Medion desktop computer, running Win XP Media edition, SP3
HP laptop computer, running Win XP Professional, SP3
Buffalo Wireless router and ADSL modem
Microsoft Office 2000 Professional on both computers

I use the Zone Alarm firewall on my laptop (free to home users). The home
network is in the "Trusted" zone. I have McAfee security suite (including
the McAfee firewall) on the laptop. Windows Firewall has been turned off
on both computers.

I am the only user of this small home network. The desktop computer is
hard-wired to the Buffalo wireless router. My laptop computer connects to
the network (and to the Internet) via the wireless router.

The "My documents" folder and its sub-folders on both computers have been
enabled for network sharing. The sharing permissions also allow network
users to change files. When I use the laptop computer, the "My Documents"
folder on the desktop is Mapped Drive "Z:\" on the laptop. I have never
experienced problems opening, editing or saving data files in the "My
Documents" folder - either directly or via the network connection. .

I use an Access database to maintain the membership records for a local
society. I used Access 95 originally to create the database - and
converted it many years ago to Access 2000. The database file on my
desktop computer is located in the C:\Documents and Settings\[My User
Name]\My Documents/Access folder - which equates to Z:\Access on the
laptop.

Until recently, I could use either computer to open this database file on
either computer, to maintain the membership records. I can still open and
edit this database file on the desktop. However, when I try to open the
file from my laptop computer via the wireless network, I receive the
following error message:

"The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file
'Z:\Access\filename.mdb'. It is already opened exclusively by another
user, or you need permission to view its data.'" It occurred to me that
the database file might be corrupted, so I backed up the file on the
desktop - and used the Compact & Repair option. Compact & Repair made no
difference whatsoever.

The latest Windows and Office updates have been installed on both
computers. The problem has occurred very recently, but I do not know
whether it is related to an Office update or to the upgrade from Win XP
SP2 to SP3.

The problem only affects this particular database file - and I can still
use either computer to open all other database files on the desktop. This
suggests that the problem is related to the particular database file, as
opposed to my home network, Access 2000 or the firewall configuration.
The Access help files are about as useful as a chocolate teapot - so I
don't know what to do next.

I shall appreciate any suggestions.
 
J

Jeff Boyce

Bob

It sounds like you've covered a lot of the possibilities.

Have you tried creating a new (empty) .mdb file and importing the pieces of
the troublesome back-end into that empty db?

--
Regards

Jeff Boyce
www.InformationFutures.net

Microsoft Office/Access MVP


Microsoft IT Academy Program Mentor
http://microsoftitacademy.com/

Bob Lucas said:
My home network comprises:

Medion desktop computer, running Win XP Media edition, SP3
HP laptop computer, running Win XP Professional, SP3
Buffalo Wireless router and ADSL modem
Microsoft Office 2000 Professional on both computers

I use the Zone Alarm firewall on my laptop (free to home users). The
home network is in the "Trusted" zone. I have McAfee security suite
(including the McAfee firewall) on the laptop. Windows Firewall has
been turned off on both computers.

I am the only user of this small home network. The desktop computer is
hard-wired to the Buffalo wireless router. My laptop computer connects
to the network (and to the Internet) via the wireless router.

The "My documents" folder and its sub-folders on both computers have
been enabled for network sharing. The sharing permissions also allow
network users to change files. When I use the laptop computer, the "My
Documents" folder on the desktop is Mapped Drive "Z:\" on the laptop. I
have never experienced problems opening, editing or saving data files in
the "My Documents" folder - either directly or via the network
connection. .

I use an Access database to maintain the membership records for a local
society. I used Access 95 originally to create the database - and
converted it many years ago to Access 2000. The database file on my
desktop computer is located in the C:\Documents and Settings\[My User
Name]\My Documents/Access folder - which equates to Z:\Access on the
laptop.

Until recently, I could use either computer to open this database file
on either computer, to maintain the membership records. I can still
open and edit this database file on the desktop. However, when I try to
open the file from my laptop computer via the wireless network, I
receive the following error message:

"The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file
'Z:\Access\filename.mdb'. It is already opened exclusively by another
user, or you need permission to view its data.'" It occurred to me that
the database file might be corrupted, so I backed up the file on the
desktop - and used the Compact & Repair option. Compact & Repair made
no difference whatsoever.

The latest Windows and Office updates have been installed on both
computers. The problem has occurred very recently, but I do not know
whether it is related to an Office update or to the upgrade from Win XP
SP2 to SP3.

The problem only affects this particular database file - and I can still
use either computer to open all other database files on the desktop.
This suggests that the problem is related to the particular database
file, as opposed to my home network, Access 2000 or the firewall
configuration. The Access help files are about as useful as a chocolate
teapot - so I don't know what to do next.

I shall appreciate any suggestions.
 

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