Cannot start Access today. Get error "Automatic configuration of the current version of Microsoft Access has failed."

I'm sorry for the confusion.

I say uninstall the latest update because that has always traditionally been the terminology used.  Historically, you used the control panel and simply uninstalled an update.

Now, however, Microsoft has completely changed things.  Updates are no longer independent, nor are they listed in the control panel.  Now, you execute a DOS command to 'revert' your installation to a new build number (this can be forwards or backwards from your current build).

So the solution, and the only thing that needs to be done, is to revert your installation to an earlier version than 9029.2167.  Users have been reporting that reverting to build 9001.2138restore functionality to Access.

As always, a global PC backup is a good idea.

If you can follow Daniel's instructions (earlier in this thread) and revert to a previous version of Office without removing & re-installing, you have a much better chance of keeping Outlook intact.

I'm confused. Are you saying I can revert back to a prior version without first uninstalling the current version?

Tom,

Yes.

Above is a screen-shot of the section of this thread where I found the link to Daniel's article (with more links from within the article) about how to revert without reinstalling.

I had a few days I could endure without being able to access my business' MS-Access databases, without suffering too much inconvenience. After the Outlook nightmare we endured last year I elected to sit, wait and watch this thread to see what progress might be posted in solving this Access issue. 

When Daniel posted his instructions I read (and saved) them all, printed the pages I would need, took careful notes about my system and Office installation, cleared my schedule for an afternoon and went to work.  I disabled Automatic Updates and followed his instructions to revert to the last-known stable build:

   February 1, 2018, Version 1801 (Build 9001.2138)

is what he recommended, and what I reverted to.

Access has been working for me for the past few days.

One related note.  For those who need Office-style applications but do not need total and complete compatibility with the latest Office features, and who are upset by the subscription fees and support charges from Microsoft, consider switching to OpenOffice from the Apache Software Foundation.  It is an Open Source application suite and it is free!  {That is NOT a typo.} 

"Base", "Calc", "Impress" and "Writer" are the OpenOffice equivalents of "Access", "Excel", "PowerPoint" and "Word" in MS-Office. The more trouble I have with MS-Office, the better Apache OpenOffice looks.  I'm studying it in my spare time and I'm saving my files in formats that can be easily and directly imported into OpenOffice.

Oh, one more thing...

Reverting takes the form of an online repair.  You start the "Update" (to a specific build) using command lines entered into an Administrator-level command window.

If you can follow Daniel's instructions (earlier in this thread) and revert to a previous version of Office without removing & re-installing, you have a much better chance of keeping Outlook intact.

I'm confused. Are you saying I can revert back to a prior version without first uninstalling the current version?

Tom,

Yes.

Above is a screen-shot of the section of this thread where I found the link to Daniel's article (with more links from within the article) about how to revert without reinstalling.

I had a few days I could endure without being able to access my business' MS-Access databases, without suffering too much inconvenience. After the Outlook nightmare we endured last year I elected to sit, wait and watch this thread to see what progress might be posted in solving this Access issue. 

When Daniel posted his instructions I read (and saved) them all, printed the pages I would need, took careful notes about my system and Office installation, cleared my schedule for an afternoon and went to work.  I disabled Automatic Updates and followed his instructions to revert to the last-known stable build:

   February 1, 2018, Version 1801 (Build 9001.2138)

is what he recommended, and what I reverted to.

Access has been working for me for the past few days.

One related note.  For those who need Office-style applications but do not need total and complete compatibility with the latest Office features, and who are upset by the subscription fees and support charges from Microsoft, consider switching to OpenOffice from the Apache Software Foundation.  It is an Open Source application suite and it is free!  {That is NOT a typo.} 

"Base", "Calc", "Impress" and "Writer" are the OpenOffice equivalents of "Access", "Excel", "PowerPoint" and "Word" in MS-Office. The more trouble I have with MS-Office, the better Apache OpenOffice looks.  I'm studying it in my spare time and I'm saving my files in formats that can be easily and directly imported into OpenOffice.

If you can follow Daniel's instructions (earlier in this thread) and revert to a previous version of Office without removing & re-installing, you have a much better chance of keeping Outlook intact.

I'm confused. Are you saying I can revert back to a prior version without first uninstalling the current version?

Does anyone know if uninstalling Office and reverting back to 6.0.9001.2138 REMOVES all Outlook's email accounts information?

I Googled but could not find a credible answer so I'm hoping someone who has done this exercise can offer a definitive answer.

Thanks

I cannot speak to specific Office builds and revisions - however, a year ago we experienced Outlook problems similar to the Access problems that are the main subject of this discussion thread.

Outlook would work okay for a day or two, then it would hang at the "Loading Profile..." banner. 

Quick & Full Repairs, Office removal & re-installation, remote MS repair sessions, all failed. If, at any point along the way, we tried to save any configuration information or rules, those efforts would only exacerbate the problem (and prolong our email agony).

{We have shifted a large portion of our email usage to Mozilla Thunderbird.} 

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I'd say (if you do uninstall) don't get your hopes up.

If you can follow Daniel's instructions (earlier in this thread) and revert to a previous version of Office without removing & re-installing, you have a much better chance of keeping Outlook intact.