You receive a "Can't find the database you specified or you didn't specify a database at all" error message in a stand-alone version of Access 2002 (887036)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2002

SYMPTOMS

You may receive an error message when you install a stand-alone version of Microsoft Access 2002 on a computer that has Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition installed. When you try to run Access 2002, you may receive the following error message:
Can't find the database you specified or you didn't specify a database at all.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if Access 2002 was not installed correctly.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, remove and reinstall Access 2002. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
  2. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click Microsoft Access 2002, and then click Remove.

    Note Because Access 2002 may not have been installed correctly, it may not appear in the Add or Remove Programs dialog box. If it does not appear, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type explorer.exe, and then click OK.
    2. Locate the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder.
    3. In the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder, right-click Msaccess.exe, click Rename, type msaccess.old, and then press ENTER.
  3. Insert the Microsoft Access 2002 Setup CD.
  4. Install Access 2002 in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OfficeXP folder.

    Note Continue to steps 5 and 6 only if you renamed Msaccess.exe in step 2c because Access did not appear in the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.
  5. Click Start, click Run, type explorer.exe, and then click OK.
  6. In the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder, right-click Msaccess.old, click Rename, type msaccess.exe, and then press ENTER.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

304067 You receive a "Can't find database specified" error message in Access 2002


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/24/2005
Keywords:kbsetup kbDatabase kbopenfile kberrmsg kbtshoot kbprb KB887036 kbAudEndUser