Pick Directory to Install Access 2007 In

[Steve in S.F.]

I have a copy of Access 2002 that I need to keep on my machine because I do
some consulting for clients who only have Access 2002/2003.

I got the Access 2007 upgrade after assurances that it could co-exist with
2002/2003. When I installed it I picked the “Custom†option. I was hoping it
would give me the opportunity to pick a directory where I could install it.
Instead it just found my earlier copy of Access and asked if I wanted to keep
it. When I said yes, it went ahead and installed it along with my existing
Office 2002 programs.

I immediately started having problems when starting Access 2002 databases,
getting weird error messages – for example that there was a problem with an
“On Open†event for a form when I didn’t have any “On Open†events programmed.

Eventually I gave up and decided to uninstall. When I did that, not only did
it uninstall Access 2007, it brought down my other Office programs as well!
Luckily I’d had the foresight to create a Restore Point before installing
Access 2007 and was eventually able to get back the Office programs without
having to go through the hassle of a full reinstall of Office.

So my question is (about time!), is there some option, switch etc. that I’m
missing that would allow me the choice of where to install the copy of Access
2007. I’m thinking that if I get it in a subdirectory away from my other
Office programs, the problems I encountered might not re-occur if I
re-install Access 2007.

Any ideas? Thanks,

Steve

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Um, if you got an upgrade version of Access 2007, you're legally obligated
to remove the older version. An upgrade version does not give you a second
licence for Access: it upgrades your existing licence.

Afraid I don't have Access 2007 handy, but the Custom option certainly
should have given you the ability to change the directory to which it's
installed.

 

[Steve in S.F.]

I don't believe that's true regarding removal of the older version, since if
you pick "Custom" installation you're given the choice to retain your older
versions as one of the radio button options. There are many articles on
having multiple versions of Access both in these forums and on the internet.

Regarding the directory, I finally saw that I had overlooked am
"Installation" tab in the "Custom" installation dialogue box which gives you
the option of what directory to install to.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Yes, you may have multiple versions, but you must have a licence for each
version.

The reason an Upgrade version of any product is so much cheaper is because
you're not actually getting a new licence: you're getting an upgrade for the
existing licence you have.

 

[Steve in S.F.]

Well, be that as it may, if what you are saying is true, then why, when you
pick "Custom" installation, does the initial screen on the UPGRADE give you
the EXPLICIT CHOICE of whether you want to keep your existing versions of
Access. Are you saying MS has made a mistake here by offering you that
choice? That seems unlikely.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

I agree it does sound odd.

I do know that upgrade versions will not install unless you have a
qualifying product in place, and I would have though that it would not give
you the option to co-install.

You might want to read the EULA (End User License Agreement) to see whether
the terms have changed. (I can't, I'm afraid, because I never buy upgrade
versions...)