ACC2000: Nothing Happens When You Try to Start a Microsoft Access Wizard

ID: Q242218

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Access 2000
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and a Microsoft Access project (.adp).


SYMPTOMS

When you try to start any of the Microsoft Access wizards, the wizard does not start. You may see either the busy mouse pointer or nothing, and then the focus returns to Access as if you had not tried to start the wizard.


RESOLUTION

Use one of the following three methods to resolve this problem.

Use a Windows Installer Shortcut

Make sure that you use a Windows Installer shortcut to start Access. The Windows Installer shortcuts are automatically placed on the Start menu when you install Office. You can also add Windows Installer shortcuts to the Office Shortcut Bar.
  1. Right-click the Office Shortcut Bar. On the shortcut menu, click Customize.


  2. Click the Buttons tab.


  3. In the Show these Files as Buttons list, click to select the Microsoft Access check box.


  4. Click OK.


For additional information about Windows Installer shortcuts, see the "More Information" section later in this article.

Missing Acwzmain.mde or Acwztool.mde

Check to see if you are missing either the Acwzmain.mde file or the Acwztool.mde file or both. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. On the Start menu, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.


  2. In the Named box, type acwzmain.mde, acwztool.mde.


  3. In the Look In list, click Local hard drive(s).


  4. Click to select the Include Subfolders check box, and then click Find Now.


If this search does not find one or both of these files, follow these steps to replace the missing file or files:
  1. Insert the Microsoft Office or Access compact disc.


  2. By using Windows Explorer, open the Pfiles\Msoffice\Office\1033 folder on your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and locate the Acwzmain.mde and/or Acwztool.mde files.


  3. Select the missing file, and then click Copy on the Edit menu


  4. Open the folder that you installed Office into. The default folder is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office. Select the Office\1033 folder, and then on the Edit menu, click Paste.

    NOTE: If both files were missing, repeat steps 2 through 4 for the second file.


  5. Start Access.


  6. Try to start one of the wizards. You may see a message that this feature is not installed. The wizards are then installed and should work correctly.


Uninstall and Reinstall Small Business Tools

NOTE: This method may not permanently correct the problem. You may need to repeat these steps each time that the problem occurs.
  1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.


  3. Click Microsoft Office 2000 Disc 2, and then click Add/Remove.


  4. Click Add or Remove Features.


  5. Click the icon next to Microsoft Small Business Tools, and then click Not Available. Click Update Now.


  6. Click Microsoft Office 2000 Disc 2, and then click Add/Remove.


  7. Click Add or Remove Features.


  8. Click the icon next to Microsoft Small Business Tools, and then click Run from My Computer. Click Update Now.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


MORE INFORMATION

Windows Installer Shortcuts

Follow these steps to determine if a shortcut (or icon) is a Windows Installer shortcut:
  1. Right-click the shortcut, and then on the shortcut menu, click Properties.


  2. Click the Shortcut tab. If all of the items on the tab are unavailable, it is a Windows Installer shortcut.


NOTE: If you do not have the Windows Desktop Update installed, Windows Installer shortcuts are not created on your computer.

For additional information about the Windows Desktop Update and Office 2000, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q235402 OFF2000: Some Office 2000 Features Are Lost When Windows Desktop Update Is Not Installed
Q233250 OFF2000: Windows Desktop Update Not Installed with IEAK Package Included in Transform
For additional information about the Windows Installer shortcuts, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q229396 OFF2000: Unable to Modify Office Shortcuts

Additional query words: pra launch hourglass don't

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: January 24, 2000
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