Shortcuts no longer working

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Someone has two systems with Win10. An older version of MsAccess (I believe 2007...) is used to work on some databases.
Normally, the user has shortcuts to the MDB files to keep things simple and easy: just double click and all is fine.

One of the systems is always connected to the Internet. The other one cannot and has been disconnected for a few years.

Yesterday I connected the outdated system and allowed Win10 (and other software) to install updates. Win10 is now on 1909 (like the connected system).

The problem is that the shortcuts no longer work (I have not changed them). If you double-click, MsAccess opens but it does NOT load the MDB file. If then you double-click the shortcut again (with MsAccess open), the MDB loads normally.

Very strange. I see references to others who had the same problem but no clear solutions. I tried to add the path to MsAccess to the shortcut (so instead of running "....\xyz.mdb", I made "...\MsAccess.exe" "....\xyz.mdb") but that didn't help.

I have no clue what caused this and have never seen this before. Note that MalwareBytes was installed before and updated. I read somewhere that this could cause the behavior so I fully uninstalled that (with a special uninstaller), but that didn't help.

I created new shortcuts, moved the files to another location, repaired and compressed the MDB files, checked the command line options in the registry at the MDB entry... Nothing strange, but the problem remains.

Suggestions? Anyone who recognizes this and who can offer a solution (updating MsAccess is not an option; learning curve for the users is too much)

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 78236
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by HansV »

What happens if the user directly double-clicks the .mdb file itself?
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Sorry, forgot to mention that. It was the first thing I tried :). Same thing: MsAccess opens first. Second time the file opens in MsAccess

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 78236
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by HansV »

Let the user try the following:
Locate a .mdb file in File Explorer.
Right-click it, and select Open With... from the context menu.
Tick the check box 'Always use this app to open .mdb files'.
If Access is listed, select it and click OK.
Otherwise, click More Apps.
If Access is listed there, select it and click OK.
Otherwise, select 'Look for another app on this PC'.
Locate and select MSAccess.exe in (probably) C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12.
Click Open.

Can the user double-click a .mdb file successfully after that?
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Thanks. I did some of this already but I'll ask them to try this exactly; might be a few days before I'll know more.

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Tried it... doesn't make a difference regretfully.

Oh and BTW... it' MSAccess 2003... ;-)

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 78236
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by HansV »

Repairing the Office 2003 installation would be my next suggestion.
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Thanks Hans, that's also something I had tried already...

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 78236
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by HansV »

Perhaps it's time to upgrade to a newer version of Microsoft Office...
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

Absolutely and I fully agree.

However the users are (very) old people who use only 10% of the functionality already. Any newer version (with 'new' things, 'new' GUI) will have a learning curve and will be too complex (I tried, believe me...).

User avatar
ErikJan
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 19:59
Location: Terneuzen, the Netherlands

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ErikJan »

I replaced the existing slow HD with a new SSD (nothing changed... created an image and restored that to the new SSD).
Surprisingly enough, the double click problem is gone now...
(There were no errors on the old HD, I checked again)

I don't get it... but the problem is solved ;-)

User avatar
ChrisGreaves
PlutoniumLounger
Posts: 15498
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 23:23
Location: brings.slot.perky

Re: Shortcuts no longer working

Post by ChrisGreaves »

ErikJan wrote:
03 Sep 2020, 12:36
... use only 10% of the functionality already. Any newer version (with 'new' things, 'new' GUI) will have a learning curve and will be too complex ...
I'm with them on this one, quite apart from the age factor. If it "types letters" and "emails Christmas cards", why change anything? It is the same argument for having a ten-year old car if all you do is run around town. Or in my case, a second-hand bicycle.
I replaced the existing slow HD with a new SSD (nothing changed... created an image and restored that to the new SSD). Surprisingly enough, the double click problem is gone now... (There were no errors on the old HD, I checked again) I don't get it... but the problem is solved ;-)
But I bet that if you had re-installed Windows that the problem would have gone.
At least one of us won't sleep tonight on account of the nagging fear that the unresolved issue will re-appear :grin: when we can least afford to deal with it :evilgrin:
Cheers
Chris
An expensive day out: Wallet and Grimace