Access/Comcast/Digital Conversion

[sweeneysmsm]

I have 3 separate clients for whom I have installed an Access database. The
databases have been in use for 5 years in one instance and 3 years for the
other two. They have had no problems until the conversion to Digital TV. All
3 have TV and Internet service from Comcast. I have received phone calls from
all 3 regarding problems accessing the database following the transition. I
have been to one client and will see the other 2 this week.

Because one had a backup copy I was able to resurrect something. If people
don't backup, I can't be responsible for their losses and have made that
clear. But all is not rosy. The client that I saw was using Access from
Office XP Pro. Though I can get the database to open, the database window
will not open and I get the following message:

"Database or project contains a missing or broken reference to the file
MSCOMCT2.OCX version 2.0. To make it work properly this must be fixed." I
click on help to see about the fix, but I am told to open an existing module
or create a new one and then go to Tools and checkoff the missing reference.
This I cannot do because I cannot get to the Module option as it is in the
Database window which does not open.

My next thought was to reinstall Access. They had purchased a new computer
several years ago with Office XP Pro installed as OEM. Unfortunately they
were given the CD for Office XP SP1 and it does not include Access. If I
could borrow a disk for Office XP Pro, would that work to do the install?

My questions are these:
1) Is there another way to fix this problem about the broken reference?
2) Has anyone else had problems with Access databases following the digital
transition? How would this have occurred?

Thanks for any insight.

Mary

 

[sweeneysmsm]

Thank you so much for replying. I will try to clarify.

It is an Access database, not an Access Project. When I said that the
Database would open but not the database window I meant that the Switchboard
form would open automatically and allow records to be accessed and modified
but the minimized database window which has the objects: tables, forms,
queries, modules, reports, macros, etc. is not visible/accessible at all.
According to the directions to solve the missing library reference, I should
open a module or create a new module which would allow me to go into Tools
and checkoff the missing reference. This I cannot do as I cannot get to the
database window.

Today I got a call and information can be added and modified but reports
cannot be printed. I am assuming that this is related to the missing
reference as well.

The person also told me she brought a CD from home which has Office XP Pro
and includes Access and she thought that she had reinstalled Access but I
cannot be sure of her skills. Seemingly it did not solve the problem or was
not installed properly.

Does that help?

Mary

 

[Damon Heron]

That whole comcast/digital transition is a red herring - no way in hell it
would affect a database that was not using the internet somehow. Even
then..doubtful. Did you follow the suggestion to hold down the shift key
while clicking on Open for the mdb? It is an mdb, isn't it? If not (mde, or
some other file extension) then you won't have access to the VB module to
look at and fix the references. All is not lost however. You could open a
new blank db, and import all tables, queries, forms, reports, and modules to
it from the offending db. Then go to vb window, do a compile and check for
missing references under the tools menu.

Damon

 

[sweeneysmsm]

Thank you so much for replying, Damon.

As for the "Red herring", perhaps you are right, but it does seem
strange/inexplicable to me that 3 groups who had not had reason to contact me
for 5+ years all of a sudden on the same day run into problems. I also know
that the computers in two other communities were not able to send/receive
e-mail for over a day. I am not sure exactly what their problems were, but
whatever happened seemed to synchronize with the dtv conversion and all had
both internet and TV service from the same provider. Me, I have Verizon Fios.
I am guessing that the fiber optic cable is a digital but different
technology. I also have my TV service as "over the air" so am not involved
with the conversion.

Thank you so much for the idea about importing. I had that in mind, but was
not sure whether Access itself was corrupted and that is why I was trying a
reinstall. Perhaps you are right and it is something specific to the
database. I will try that and will post my results.

Thank you again.

Mary

Mary

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

Does that help?

But did you try the tip of holding down the shift key while starting
Access?

Tony