PRB: Upgrading to RDS 2.x from RDS 1.x May Break Applications

• Remote Data Service for ADO versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.01, 2.1, 2.1 SP1, 2.1 SP2

SYMPTOMS

After upgrading from Remote Data Services (RDS) 1.x to version 2.0 or greater your application may report the error:

Error: The specified Handler has denied Access.

CAUSE

With the advent of version 2.0, RDS implements a new security feature called Handlers. When Handlers are enabled, any unknown Connection string is rejected (the default behavior of the Handler.) An unknown connection string is defined as any connection string not in the MSDFMAP.INI handler file located in the Operating System Root Directory (C:\WINNT for example.)

RESOLUTION

Handlers can be disabled by running;

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\msadc\Handunsf.reg"

After running the Handunsf.reg file, the computer must be rebooted in order for the changes to take effect.

This method is NOT RECOMMENDED. Handlers are not difficult to administer. See the REFERENCES section below for more details.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

REFERENCES

Using the Customization Handler Feature in RDS 2.0

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge base:

Q230680 INFO: Working with RDS Handlers

© Microsoft Corporation 1999, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Jonathan Johnson, Microsoft Corporation

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbRDS kbGrpVBDB kbGrpMDAC
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,1.5,2.0,2.01,2.1,2.1 SP1,2.1 SP2
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb