• Lost SYSTEM.MDW (Access 2003 SP2)

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    #453083

    So I get a support call that a user had her computer replaced with a new one and now the Access DB she uses cannot launch because she is missing the SYSTEM.MDW file.

    We do not know where the original one is and she needs to get into the Database.

    I searched for this issue in this site but I came up with some links about converting MDA to MDW, or are recovering from an old MDW.

    This issue is for someone who has completely the MDW file.

    Can you help?

    Thanks

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    • #1120605

      If it’s a secured .mdw file, and if there is no backup copy to be found, the only hope you have is that the strings used when creating the .mdw file have been stored somewhere – if so, you can recreate it. Otherwise, there’s no (legal) way to get into the database anymore.

      • #1120608

        Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling about the “legal” way.

        Since I work for a big corp, they will have to suffer not having a backup… lol

        Thanks again

      • #1120687

        Ok. How about this?

        Is there a registry setting that can tell me what SYSTEM.MDW file it was using? Maybe it was on a network share so I need to hunt for it.

        Thanks

        • #1120689

          The registry contains the path to the default .mdw file for the user. However, it is possible to use a secured database in combination with a non-default .mdw file, by creating a shortcut that opens the database using a specific .mdw file. This is in fact the recommended setup.
          For what it’s worth, the registry entry is the SystemDB value in HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0AccessJet4.0Engines.

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