ACC97: "<path> Is an Invalid Path" Error Caused by Truncated Folder Path

ID: Q232393

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Access 97
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.


Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.


SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a database file on a Novell NetWare server, you may receive the following error message

<path> is an invalid path.
and the path name mentioned in the message seems to be truncated.

-or-

If you double-click a shortcut to the file, Msaccess.exe opens, and then you receive the following error message:
\\<path>\<filename>.mdb isn't a valid path. Make sure the pathname is spelled correctly and that you are connected to the server on which the file resides.


CAUSE

Quotation marks are missing from the application path used to start Microsoft Access. In the registry, the following key has an incorrect value:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Access.Application.8\shell\open\command
The value contains the path to Microsoft Access and some switches, as follows:
"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\MSACCESS.EXE /NOSTARTUP \"\%1\""
The problem is that the quotation marks are not placed properly around the application path in order to separate it from the switches. This entry is created by the Msaccess.srg file, which is in the Msapps\Office\ folder.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Resolution 1

On the client computer:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.


  3. Click (Default) for the following key in the registry:


    4. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Access.Application.8\shell\open\command
  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify, and in the Value data box, type the following value:
    "\"C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\MSACCESS.EXE\" /NOSTARTUP \"%1\""
    This places quotation marks around the application path and around the characters %1 .

    NOTE: The path to Msaccess.exe may be different on your system.


  5. Click OK.


  6. On the Registry menu, click Exit.


Resolution 2

Rebuild the file-type association for the .mdb file name extension. To do so, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, please consult your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Double-click My Computer, and on the View menu, click Folder Options.


  2. Click the File Types tab.


  3. In the Registered file types list, locate Microsoft Access Database, and click it.


  4. Click Remove, and then click Yes.


  5. Restart the computer.


  6. After restarting the computer, double-click My Computer, and on the View menu, click Folder Options.


  7. Click the File Types tab.


  8. Click New Type. Note that the Add New File Type dialog box opens.


  9. In the Description of type box, type Microsoft Access Database.


  10. Click New. Note that the New Action dialog box opens.


  11. In the Action box, type open.


  12. Place the pointer in the Application used to perform action box and click Browse.


  13. Browse to the Msaccess.exe file. Even though you may have chosen to install it elsewhere, the default path to the Msaccess.exe file is as follows:


    14. C:\Program Files\MS Office\Office\Msaccess.exe
  14. Click Open and OK to return to the Add File Type dialog box.


  15. Under Actions, click Open.


  16. Click OK four times to close all dialog boxes.


Additional query words: prb

Keywords : kberrmsg kbdta ocsso
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: September 15, 1999
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