ACC1x: Older Versions of Shared DLLs Cause MS Access Problems

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0 and 1.1

SUMMARY

Shared dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) in your system older than those supplied with Microsoft Access version 1.0 or Microsoft Windows version 3.1 can cause unexpected errors with Microsoft Access.

To avoid problems, make sure that all shared DLLs are at least as current as those supplied with Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or Microsoft Access version 1.0, and that they are all located in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

MORE INFORMATION

The shared DLLs used by Microsoft Access are:

   COMMDLG.DLL   89248 bytes   3/10/92   Windows 3.1
   COMMDLG.DLL   89248 bytes   10/25/92  Access 1.0
   COMMDLG.DLL   89248 bytes   5/21/93   Access 1.1
   COMMDLG.DLL   97984 bytes   10/1/92   Windows for Workgroups

   OLECLI.DLL    83456 bytes             Same for all

   OLESVR.DLL    24064 bytes             Same for all

   DDEML.DLL     36864 bytes   3/10/92   Windows 3.1
   DDEML.DLL     36964 bytes   10/25/92  Access 1.0
   DDEML.DLL     36964 bytes   5/21/93   Access 1.1
   DDEML.DLL     38400 bytes   10/1/92   Windows for Workgroups

   SHELL.DLL     41600 bytes   3/10/92   Windows 3.1
   SHELL.DLL     41600 bytes   10/25/92  Access 1.0
   SHELL.DLL     41600 bytes   5/21/93   Access 1.1
   SHELL.DLL     41520 bytes   10/1/92   Windows for Workgroups

   VER.DLL        9008 bytes             Same for all

Microsoft Access supplies the same DLL versions as Windows 3.1, and it requires these (or newer) versions for correct operation; older versions can cause errors.

Microsoft Access and Windows copy shared DLLs into the WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory, and that is where Microsoft Access first looks for them. If it does not find one or more of the shared DLLs, it looks in the directory where Microsoft Access is installed, and then in the current directory.

Often, Microsoft Access finds outdated or incorrect DLLs because third-party software with old or foreign DLLs has been installed or reinstalled, overwriting the correct DLLs. Some third-party software packages copy DLLs into directories other than WINDOWS\SYSTEM, creating multiple copies and making the problem harder to track and resolve.

Microsoft Access will not reload DLLs previously loaded by another software package; it will only load shared DLLs not already loaded. If the previously loaded DLLs are incorrect, they can cause problems with Microsoft Access.

If the Microsoft Access Setup program fails to locate a shared DLL, or detects an older version of one, it issues an error message such as:

   Outdated XXXX.DLL found. Please reinstall MSAccess.

   -or-

   Can't find XXXX.DLL.