Can you install to versions of access: 97 and 2003

Hello,
Is it possible to install two versions of MS Access on the same O.S. I already have Access97 installed. Now I want to install access 2003 without it up removing my previous access 97. If it removes/upgardes access 97 to access 2003 I will not be able to open my access 97 database.
Is this possible? and if so how?

Thanks--any help will be much appreciated.

You have to install 2003 first. Then go back and re-install 97. Also, you have to watch out for keeping the 97 version in a separate folder, perhaps.

There are Microsoft Knowledge Base articles about doing this. You could search for them. Pat Hartman has also posted some articles on the topic.

Among other issues, remember that only one application (03 or 97) will be associated with type .MDB - so you might have to have special icons set up for the 97 databases. Their "command line" (in Properties of the icon) will have to include the path to the correct version of Access.

The_Doc_Man said:

You have to install 2003 first. Then go back and re-install 97. Also, you have to watch out for keeping the 97 version in a separate folder, perhaps.

There are Microsoft Knowledge Base articles about doing this. You could search for them. Pat Hartman has also posted some articles on the topic.

Among other issues, remember that only one application (03 or 97) will be associated with type .MDB - so you might have to have special icons set up for the 97 databases. Their "command line" (in Properties of the icon) will have to include the path to the correct version of Access.

Click to expand...

I disagree. You should install Access 97 first and then install Access 2003. That is what I have done with my home PC and I have never had a problem. You will be asked during the install if you want to upgrade the 97 to the 2003 version or keep them both. Select that you want to keep them both and the install will ask where you want the 2003 version installed to. Your computers registry will remember which version you used last and will open that version if you try to open a db from Windows Explorer. Just installing two versions of Access will not automatically upgrade your .mdb database files. Only you can do that and Access 2003 will ask you if you want to convert your 97 version to 2003 if you open a 97 db with Access 2003. During the file convert process Access 2003 will not let you over write the actual file, it will make you give the newly converted file a different file name during the conversion. You can open an Access 97 db with Access 2003 without converting it for Access 2003 will open the Access 97 db in a read-only mode where you can not change the design of the db but you can add/edit/delete table records.

I agree with GHudson. When you install a later version of Office, it asks if you want to keep the older versions, just say yes. Also make sure you install the later version into a different folder. I have 97, 2K, XP and 2003 all coexisting on my home box.

You may have to UNinstall first-be careful

My computer came preInstalled with Office XP (2002). I needed to add both Ac97 and Ac2000 to use for clients with those versions. To get them to work I had to uninstall XP and load the prior versions (97 then XP) in their own separate folders. They work fine. I never did get the XP working 100% again. I suspect some registry values may not have been reset in the uninstall.

There is a fix if you try installing the older versions afterwards. See this article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;141373

but it really is better to uninstall, then install in order.

I did have to rename the Hatten font

I did have to do the renaming of the Hatten font to get the Access97 to run, but I did this prior to trying to re-install the OfficeXP. Most of the problems with the Office XP re-install concern missing functionality in the Word component.