Couldn't find file 'System.mdw'

Bill Short

On one of my users desktops I have setup multiple icons to open Access
applications (Access 2k). In the target line I have specified the
path to msaccess.exe, the path of the system.mdw and the path to the
..mdb. The icons do not always work. Occasionally he will get the
error message "Couldn't find file 'System.mdw'. This file is required
for startup." If he opens any Access application by opening Access
first and browsing to the .mdb it opens and then the icon works after
that. It is not just one icon, this problem happens with multiple
icons and the problem has survived a wipe and replace of the OS (for a
completely different reason).

I have copied the icons to my PC but have not been able to duplicate
the problem.

Appreciate any help.

Bill

Nov 13 '05 #1

Bill Hutchison

Have you used the Work Group Administrator tool to assign the .mdw
file?
I think it is wkgrpadm.exe in Windows or System or System32, can't
remember...

On 17 Jun 2004 12:35:33 -0700, bs********@yahoo.com (Bill Short)
wrote:

On one of my users desktops I have setup multiple icons to open Access
applications (Access 2k). In the target line I have specified the
path to msaccess.exe, the path of the system.mdw and the path to the
.mdb. The icons do not always work. Occasionally he will get the
error message "Couldn't find file 'System.mdw'. This file is required
for startup." If he opens any Access application by opening Access
first and browsing to the .mdb it opens and then the icon works after
that. It is not just one icon, this problem happens with multiple
icons and the problem has survived a wipe and replace of the OS (for a
completely different reason).

I have copied the icons to my PC but have not been able to duplicate
the problem.

Appreciate any help.

Bill

Nov 13 '05 #2

Bill Short

Thanks for the replay. Yes I have run the workgroup administrator and
pointed it to a generic .mdw. We have many Access db's and most of
them do not use security. That's why I specify the .mdw in the target
line of the desktop icon for the few that have security.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSACCESS.EXE"
I:\AccessWG\DPPROJ2K.mdb /wrkgrp I:\ACCESSWG\SYSTEM.MDW

The really wierd part is that once you open Access on its own then the
icons work.

Bill

bi***@gci.net (Bill Hutchison) wrote in message news:<40**************@news.gci.net>...

Have you used the Work Group Administrator tool to assign the .mdw
file?
I think it is wkgrpadm.exe in Windows or System or System32, can't
remember...
On 17 Jun 2004 12:35:33 -0700, bs********@yahoo.com (Bill Short)
wrote:

On one of my users desktops I have setup multiple icons to open Access
applications (Access 2k). In the target line I have specified the
path to msaccess.exe, the path of the system.mdw and the path to the
.mdb. The icons do not always work. Occasionally he will get the
error message "Couldn't find file 'System.mdw'. This file is required
for startup." If he opens any Access application by opening Access
first and browsing to the .mdb it opens and then the icon works after
that. It is not just one icon, this problem happens with multiple
icons and the problem has survived a wipe and replace of the OS (for a
completely different reason).

I have copied the icons to my PC but have not been able to duplicate
the problem.

Appreciate any help.

Bill

Nov 13 '05 #3

Rick Brandt

"Bill Short" <bs********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f1**************************@posting.google.c om...

Thanks for the replay. Yes I have run the workgroup administrator and
pointed it to a generic .mdw. We have many Access db's and most of
them do not use security. That's why I specify the .mdw in the target
line of the desktop icon for the few that have security.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\MSACCESS.EXE"
I:\AccessWG\DPPROJ2K.mdb /wrkgrp I:\ACCESSWG\SYSTEM.MDW

The really wierd part is that once you open Access on its own then the
icons work.

Something is moving or deleting your System.MDW file. The reason the above
fixes the problem is that starting with A2000 Access will automatically
create a new default System.MDW anytime it can't find one, but it only does
so when Access is opened without specifying a file.
--
I don't check the Email account attached
to this message. Send instead to...
RBrandt at Hunter dot com

Nov 13 '05 #4