Where to install Access 97

[Brian S.]

Hi,
I have an HP laptop with XP Professional and Office Professional 2003
SP3 (including Access 2003 of course) I want to install Access 97 from my
Office 97 suite to run - don't want to convert - my payroll program I
created in Access 97.
Can someone suggest the best location for this. I have legal product
keys for both versions but no CD for Office 2003 so I want to be careful not
to wipe out Access 2003. I have downloaded AccessOpener 1.20 by Donn Edwards
which should open Access files using the correct version

All advice welcome
Brian S.

 

[Brian S.]

Thanks for the quick response. After installation I could not open Access97
and worked my way to -

Article ID: 141373 - Last Review: May 7, 2007 - Revision: 10.4
"There is no license" error message starting Microsoft Access

Will do this shortly and report results.
Brian S.

 

[Clifford Bass]

Hi Brian,

Basic question #1: Why install Access 97 when Access 2003 will open 97
files? It will ask if you want to convert the first time you open a 97
database. You just choose not to. Thereafter, it will not ask.

Basic question #2: Why not convert? Have you tried it to see if there
were any issues? For a long time I had some users that did not want to
convert a pretty complicated database from 97--they were afraid it would not
work. When they finally were forced to convert due to changing
circumstances, it worked fine without any issues at all.

Clifford Bass

 

[Brian S.]

Hi Brian,

Basic question #1: Why install Access 97 when Access 2003 will open
97
files? It will ask if you want to convert the first time you open a 97
database. You just choose not to. Thereafter, it will not ask.

The not convert button seems inactive - stuck on convert

Basic question #2: Why not convert? Have you tried it to see if
there
were any issues? For a long time I had some users that did not want to
convert a pretty complicated database from 97--they were afraid it would
not
work. When they finally were forced to convert due to changing
circumstances, it worked fine without any issues at all.

Clifford Bass

I have Access97 on another computer and don't want to pay the upgrade. I did
make a copy of my replicated Access97 database but had fear that the
conversion would roll through to the design master.

Brian S.

 

[Brian S.]

After following KB article, Access97 opens properly. Thanks Arvin for
pointing out that the AccessOpener is overkill for basically two databases.
I will use shortcuts as you suggest.
Brian S.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I have Access97 on another computer and don't want to pay the upgrade. I
did make a copy of my replicated Access97 database but had fear that the
conversion would roll through to the design master.

Probably, the wisest decision for now. I would however, make a copy of the
front-end of the database, and make a trial conversion. That way you will
have time to work out possible issues (should there be any) before you need
to make other conversion decisions.

 

[Rick Brandt]

While I've never done this, everything I've read indicates that when
installing multiple versions of Access it is vital to install them in
order, i.e. ver97, ver2003, etc.

While it might avoid a couple issues or be somewhat simpler, it has never
been "vital". Tony Toews (I think) posted long ago that he intentionally
tested various orders of install and found no problems in doing so.

 

[David W. Fenton]

While it might avoid a couple issues or be somewhat simpler, it
has never been "vital". Tony Toews (I think) posted long ago that
he intentionally tested various orders of install and found no
problems in doing so.

The machine I'm working on right now was installed in this order:

Office 2003
Access 97
Access 2007 runtime
Access 2000

And all of them work fine (with the expected duelling
re-installation prompts, of course).

 

[Clifford Bass]

Hi Brian,

Curious that it would not allow bypassing of conversion. Perhaps
because you are using replication? But I don't know that for a fact--perhaps
others do.

A possible option to try if you do not need to do development on the
other machine would be to go ahead with the conversion and install Access
2007 Runtime, which is free at
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...D9-9DC6-4B38-9FA6-2C745A175AED&displaylang=en>,
on that other machine. It can open earlier versions. It will constantly ask
to convert a 97 database. So that might be an issue if you have other 97
databases. It does not do that with 2000 and later databases. But test it
all out on copies of the files before you commit to it, if you decide to try
that route.

Otherwise, for what it may be worth to you, I concur with the reasons
for staying with Access 97 database.

Clifford Bass

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

While it might avoid a couple issues or be somewhat simpler, it has never
been "vital". Tony Toews (I think) posted long ago that he intentionally
tested various orders of install and found no problems in doing so.

Indeed. I have at least four or five times very deliberately
installed multiple versions of Access on different systems in
different randomish orders. Never had a problem other than the usual
precautions such as not deleting older version, different install
directories and the A97 license problem.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

Usually, it is better to install the versions in order (i.e. Access 97
first) but I think you may be all right out of order.

As mentioned in another posting I've deliberately installed out of
order a number of times.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Brian S.]

Thanks again to all posters. Currently sticking with Access97. Access2003
still will only allow conversion option. May try changing a replica by
making it not replicable and see what happens.
Brian S.

 

[Clifford Bass]

Hi Brian,

You are welcome! And good luck!

Clifford Bass