"The workgroup information file is missing or opened exclusively by another user" ARRRRGH!

[0to60]

I'm trying to run a script in SQL Server 2005 that will create a linked
server to an Access 2002-2003 database. I keep getting this:

OLE DB provider "Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0" for linked server "VDis" returned
message "Cannot start your application. The workgroup information file is
missing or opened exclusively by another user.".

The .mdb file is on a local drive and there is no possibility of it being
opened by another user.
I have the MSSQLSEVER service running under my account, and I'm a local
administrator.
I don't understand how this system.mda stuff works in Access. What does it
do? I can't even find it on my computer anywhere.

 

[Sylvain Lafontaine]

It's system.mdw for Access 2000, 2, 3 and 7 and system.mda for Access 95-97.
You can download from Microsoft a document that explains it all:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/165009

In your case, if you plan to use a MDB database as a linked server, I would
suggest that you split this file into a Frontend and a Backend (FE/BE) and
that you remove any security features that you have installed from the BE.

Also, it's usually easier to create the links from the Access file toward
the SQL-Server than doing the inverse; creating a link from SQL-Server
toward the Access file.

Finally, this newsgroup (m.p.access.adp.sqlserver) is about ADP and its
relationship with SQL-Server and has nothing to do with MDB files or with
questions strictly about SQL-Server itself; so if you want to find people
with more knowledgeable about your problem, you can eliminate part of the
luck factor by looking into other newsgroups as well.

--
Sylvain Lafontaine, ing.
MVP - Windows Live Platform
Email: sylvain2009 sylvainlafontaine com (fill the blanks, no spam please)
Independent consultant and remote programming for Access and SQL-Server
(French)