Windows Update Destroying Access Functionality

  • Thread starter Amy Blankenship
  • Start date
A

Amy Blankenship

I recently went through the automatic updates that were to be installed on
my computer, and I found that one of them apparently had the sole function
of destroying the ability to edit data in linked Excel tables. There didn't
seem to be any rationale provided that this was fixing any other issues.
Any idea about why we'd want to install such a destructive update?

-Amy
 
W

Wayne-I-M

Hi Amy

If it was a windows update you will normally have a restore point to go back
to.

I have turned off auto updates as I think if I need them I will look at them
1st then update (start - control panel - auto updates - uncheck the box -
apply - close)

Regarding your problem - it does sound strange and I really don't know why
it would do this. Use the restore option to remove the upate then find out
more about it before you use it.

Hope this helps
 
A

Aaron Kempf

oh come on

this is a patent lawsuit that Microsoft lost-- because they weren't willing
to pay the patent holder a reasonable amount of money

it's in South America; it specifically has to do with editing linked Excel
files

SERIOUS
 
K

Ken Snell \(MVP\)

These updates disabled the ability to update linked EXCEL spreadsheets when
you use ACCESS 2002 or ACCESS 2003:

Office XP
KB904018, dated October 18, 2005. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904018

Office 2003
SP2. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904953/en-us

This feature has been disabled for legal reasons. Microsoft's own words:
"Because of legal issues, Microsoft has disabled the functionality in Access
2003 and in Access 2002 that let users change the data in linked tables that
point to a range in an Excel workbook." Microsoft lost a legal case
(lawsuit)
involving a person who claimed a patent on the feature.

These changes did not affect ACCESS 2000 or ACCESS 97.
 
A

Aaron Kempf

I don't like it

If MS wants to give me a refund for every copy I've ever bought of MS Access
then maybe I'll forgive M$
 
A

Amy Blankenship

Ken Snell (MVP) said:
These updates disabled the ability to update linked EXCEL spreadsheets
when
you use ACCESS 2002 or ACCESS 2003:

Office XP
KB904018, dated October 18, 2005. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904018

Office 2003
SP2. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/904953/en-us

This feature has been disabled for legal reasons. Microsoft's own words:
"Because of legal issues, Microsoft has disabled the functionality in
Access
2003 and in Access 2002 that let users change the data in linked tables
that
point to a range in an Excel workbook." Microsoft lost a legal case
(lawsuit)
involving a person who claimed a patent on the feature.
Click to expand...

It's only disabled on the machines of people who installed the update :).
They really should provide more clarity in the KB articles that you get when
you click the link in the update. Also, people on these forums should be
more proactive about warning people of destructive updates that are in the
works.

-Amy
 
K

Ken Snell \(MVP\)

If you do a Google search of these groups, you'll find lots of posts about
this issue over past 1.5 years.

For people on 2002 and 2003, there is not a whole lot of choice about
"accepting" this disablement if you want the patches to the software. MS was
required to include the disablement in the updates. Of course, one can
choose to not install the updates, so long as one understands that the other
enhancements and bug fixes also won't be installed.
 
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