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  1. #1
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Opening old Access database

    We recently upgraded to Windows 10 & Office 365. i have an old access database created, I think, in 2013 which now will not open. Is there any way to open this with all of the links & relationships intact in Access for Office 365?

  2. #2
    ranman256's Avatar
    ranman256 is offline VIP
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    all old versions of a db should open in New versions of Access.
    try starting Access, then open the db while holding the shift key? does this do anything?

  3. #3
    isladogs's Avatar
    isladogs is offline MVP / VIP
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    Do you get a message that the database was created in an earlier version of Access?
    If not, it may be a references issue

    Another possible issue could be if you have also changed from 32-bit to 64-bit Access
    Colin, Access MVP, Website, email
    The more I learn, the more I know I don't know. When I don't know, I keep quiet!
    If I don't know that I don't know, I don't know whether to answer

  4. #4
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by ranman256 View Post
    all old versions of a db should open in New versions of Access.
    try starting Access, then open the db while holding the shift key? does this do anything?
    ranman, using the shift key does not change anything.

  5. #5
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by isladogs View Post
    Do you get a message that the database was created in an earlier version of Access?
    If not, it may be a references issue

    Another possible issue could be if you have also changed from 32-bit to 64-bit Access
    isladogs, I do get the earlier version message. I am using 64 bit but it worked OK in 64bit Win7.

  6. #6
    CJ_London is online now VIP
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    what is the file type for your old db?

    .mdb or .mde?

    or perhaps .accdb or .accde?

    And Isladogs is referring to the access version 64bit or 32bit, not the windows version

  7. #7
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajax View Post
    what is the file type for your old db?

    .mdb or .mde?

    or perhaps .accdb or .accde?

    And Isladogs is referring to the access version 64bit or 32bit, not the windows version
    Ajax, file type is .mdb

  8. #8
    CJ_London is online now VIP
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    mdb's can only be 32bit. So your access version also needs to be 32bit. You can find out by opening access then clicking on file>help where you should see something like

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Capture.PNG 
Views:	21 
Size:	1.7 KB 
ID:	41026

  9. #9
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajax View Post
    mdb's can only be 32bit. So your access version also needs to be 32bit. You can find out by opening access then clicking on file>help where you should see something like

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Capture.PNG 
Views:	21 
Size:	1.7 KB 
ID:	41026
    The access about gives me Click image for larger version. 

Name:	about access.jpg 
Views:	19 
Size:	21.8 KB 
ID:	41028 (hope you can read that).

    If I click the about button it gives me version & session I.D. plus terms & conditions but no mention of 32 or 64 bit.

  10. #10
    CJ_London is online now VIP
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    it will be there somewhere - I use 2010 so it has probably moved. On the file tab - do you have an account option? if so go to that and then you might need to click an 'about' option

    see this link https://support.office.com/en-gb/art...9-e334518b8b19

  11. #11
    isladogs's Avatar
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    Click the About Access button. The bitness is shown in the top line

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Capture.PNG 
Views:	17 
Size:	4.8 KB 
ID:	41039
    Colin, Access MVP, Website, email
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  12. #12
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by isladogs View Post
    Click the About Access button. The bitness is shown in the top line

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Capture.PNG 
Views:	17 
Size:	4.8 KB 
ID:	41039
    Found it, it's 32bit.

  13. #13
    isladogs's Avatar
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    As its 32-bit that's one less thing to worry about.

    When you open the database, do you see a yellow security 'bar' with an Enable Content button? If so, click it.
    Then go to File...Options...Trust Center and check the various settings e.g. Macro settings

    Next click Database Tools...Visual Basic in the ribbon to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE)
    In the VBE, go to Tools...References and check if any references are marked MISSING.
    If so, you will need to browse and locate the missing references.

    Let us know what you find out.
    Colin, Access MVP, Website, email
    The more I learn, the more I know I don't know. When I don't know, I keep quiet!
    If I don't know that I don't know, I don't know whether to answer

  14. #14
    CJ_London is online now VIP
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    mdb's ran from the original access v1 back in 1992 until 2003. All earlier mdb's could be opened by all later versions of access until access 2013 at which point access versions prior to and include access 2000 could no longer be opened.

    In your original post you said the database was created in 2013 - but the default then was .accdb. You could still create a .mdb but that would be unusual. Without knowing the exact message you are getting - perhaps you can provide it - I suspect that your .mdb was created in access 2000 or earlier. If that is the case, the only option is to get an earlier version of access - say 2007 or 2010 to open the file and upgrade to a later version.

    What goes against this theory is that you say you recently upgraded to Office 365 with the implication you were using access 2013 - and if it was working under that, then it is not possible you would have a pre access 2000 mdb.

    So there is something wrong with the picture or it is incomplete. Can you double check the info you have provided and also whether or not you are using workgroups for data security - it creates a .mdw file which is associated with the database.

  15. #15
    nigh is offline Novice
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    Quote Originally Posted by isladogs View Post
    As its 32-bit that's one less thing to worry about.

    When you open the database, do you see a yellow security 'bar' with an Enable Content button? If so, click it.
    Then go to File...Options...Trust Center and check the various settings e.g. Macro settings

    Next click Database Tools...Visual Basic in the ribbon to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE)
    In the VBE, go to Tools...References and check if any references are marked MISSING.
    If so, you will need to browse and locate the missing references.

    Let us know what you find out.
    I can't open the database at all, I just get the 'earlier version' message.

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