Cannot open database with registry setting error displayed

[wesve]

Hello - I have an Access 2003 application which I emailed to our customer overseas. When she tries to open the database, she receives the following error:
"Microsoft Office Access cannot change the registry setting that controls whether or not unsafe expressions are blocked".
Her macro security setting is set to "medium". Not sure what else to check. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[sierra7]

Hello - I have an Access 2003 application which I emailed to our customer overseas. When she tries to open the database, she receives the following error:
"Microsoft Office Access cannot change the registry setting that controls whether or not unsafe expressions are blocked".
Her macro security setting is set to "medium". Not sure what else to check. Any ideas?

Thanks!

This is not an answer to your question, more of a hook so that I can follow any suggestions that arise.

I have hit a very similar problem and was browsing to see whether there were any threads in TheScripts.

I have just upgrade an established app from '97 to 2003 and now users have to clear two (initially there were 3) error messages saying Access is an Unsafe application, before it will run.

This is all to do with Access potentially containing malicious VBA code. When the app first runs on the computer the user is faced with one warning, which if is acknowledged doesn't re-appear, so potentially has written to the registery. However, there are a further two messages which are persistant.

It seems these can be avoided by by either reducing the security level on the computer (although not a good idea I would like to know how) or by 'Signing' the app with a security certificate (again I would like to know how)

You can run selfcert.exe (found in Office folder) to creat a certificate but I don't know how to 'attach' it to a .mdb file, etc.

I'm hoping there is someone out there with experience of this or additional advice.

S7

[sierra7]

I have done some more research on this and found my answers in the following article "Using SelfCert to Create Digital Certificates . . . " at

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=194

The article also has links to a number of Microsoft articles for fuller explanation.

Although this will be a PART of your solution I suspect that your overseas customer may be having an additional problem caused by security levels on the workstation preventing changes to the registry (either by Windows of third party anti-virus/anti-adware software) I believe registry changes happen when you respond to the security message box "Unsafe Expressions are Not Blocked"

As explained in the articles, one route is to install Service Pack 8 and initiate Sandbox mode. This does not suite me because I would have to visit site and upgrade 15 computers using Access runtime 2003.

It was easier for me to;-
Create a self certificate on my development computer
Open my app (in design mode) and 'sign' it with my new cert
(via Tools > Macro > VB Editor > Tools > Digital Signature)
Save and distribute the app
When app is opened by user, acknowledge and save cert on user's pc
(Click 'Details' in Security Warning messagebox, > View Certificate, > Instal Certificate etc., etc,)
Thereafter, the app opens without errors

Ofcourse, if something is stopping you write to the registry then this will not work for you.

I must also check-out if 'runtime' will allow the certificate to be saved as above, or whether I must cut a new 'installation' disc and start over !

I hope this has helped

S7