Access Upgrade

[Bob]

I upgraded from Access 97 to Access 2002 about 2 years
ago. I recently had a hard disk crash and all of my
applications were wiped out.

I now have the Access 2002 upgrade disk, but no longer
have the old 97 disk.

When I try to reinstall Access 2002 upgrade onto the new
hard disk, it will not allow me to do so because I do not
have the original 97 installation.

Is there a workaround to get it to accept an upgrade even
though I do not have the original application.

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Bob.

There's no legal work-around. Access XP upgrade requires either an earlier
version of Access as a qualifying product or an earlier version of Microsoft
Office that contains Access, like the Professional or Developer editions.
You may not have to install the earlier version on your computer, but you'll
at least need to have the CD handy, with valid Product Key Code, when the
upgrade CD searches for the qualifying product during installation.

If you need to purchase another copy of Access 97 or Microsoft Office 97
Pro, then you may be able to find a bargain in an eBay online auction, at
http://www.eBay.com, or one of the online used software vendors might have
the older versions of Microsoft Office for sale. Check any of the following
for current availability and prices:

http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msacc.htm
http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msoff.htm
http://www.recycledsoftware.com/pricelst.htm#115
http://www.software-xchange.com

HTH.

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips.

(Any human can read my reply E-mail address and should alter it so that a
message will be forwarded to me. Spammers are free to use my UNALTERED
reply E-mail address. I will *never* get those messages!)

 

[Bob]

The problem is that the only thing that will qualify is an
earlier version of Access.

I have Office 2002 up and running, but my Access
application was purchased separately and not a part of the
Office 2002.

Microsofts assistance for a problem like this sucks.

I had similar problems with other software companies, and
they solved it in minutes by giving me a special code to
use in the installation process.

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Bob.

The problem is that the only thing that will qualify is an
earlier version of Access.

Microsofts assistance for a problem like this sucks.

Did you call the Microsoft Product Support Services phone number or did you
just try the online support? Microsoft's online support isn't very
supportive in a situation like this, but if you talk to a human, you may get
some assistance.

<BEGIN RANT>

The last time I had a problem with a Microsoft product (in this case,
Microsoft forgot to
package the software CD's in the box -- "Isn't *that* what I paid for?!!"),
I
called the Microsoft Product Support Services phone number, and spent more
than an hour on the phone (including hold times between multiple transfers)
trying to get Microsoft's product support staff in India to understand my
problem. The Microsoft Indians' garbled English was so horrible that I only
understood between 5% and 20% of their words, and they couldn't understand
what I was saying, either, because they kept asking me to repeat myself,
too. Extremely frustrating, to say the least. Finally, one of the
Microsoft Indian call
center operators decided to transfer me to a non-Indian who immediately
understood my problem, took my name, address and phone number and promised
to ship me the CD's for free within a week. I received the
package five days later, as promised.

However, 90 seconds on the phone with someone who speaks English and quickly
fixes the problem vs. 75 minutes of miscommunication, hold times and
customer aggravation cannot possibly justify the alleged "lower cost of
outsourcing overseas" that Microsoft and many other companies are claiming
they must use in order to stay competitive. Low price DOES NOT MEAN that it
costs LESS.

I had similar problems with other software companies, and
they solved it in minutes by giving me a special code to
use in the installation process.

The other software companies are customer service-oriented and know that if
they give good customer service, customers are likely to buy more of their
products in the future, as well as tell others how well-treated they were.
"Word of mouth" advertising has always been the best form of advertising.
You have the opportunity to spread the word in a public forum.

Which software companies helped you immediately when they were informed that
you had a problem with installing their software application upgrades? The
rest of us would like to know what software we *should* be buying if we want
to get the same great customer service that you received.

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips.

(Any human can read my reply E-mail address and should alter it so that a
message will be forwarded to me. Spammers are free to use my UNALTERED
reply E-mail address. I will *never* get those messages!)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for comeback, Gunny.

I take part of what I said about Microsoft support back.

I finally got through to a number of human beings - most
of which spoke relatively understandable English, and they
solved the problem.

I did have to pay for a replacement disk to be sent to me,
but at least it was far less than what it would have cost
if I had been required to purchase a new copy of Access.

When I finally got to talk to humans, the process went
fairly smoothly and I have had a telephone call and an e-
mail asking whether the problem was resolved to my
satisfaction.

I have come to the conclusion that when you can get to the
right person, Microsoft has decent service - - but their
online site makes it very confusing to find the right
person.

Bob

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Bob.

I have come to the conclusion that when you can get to the
right person, Microsoft has decent service - - but their
online site makes it very confusing to find the right
person.

Very true. Glad you got it sorted out without having to pay an arm and a
leg.

HTH.

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips.

(Any human can read my reply E-mail address and should alter it so that a
message will be forwarded to me. Spammers are free to use my UNALTERED
reply E-mail address. I will *never* get those messages!)