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

Anonymous
2018-03-04T21:26:15+00:00

Hello

I have been using office 2016 (16.0.9029.2167) for about 8 months. Today Access will not start. I get the error "Automatic configuration of the current version of Microsoft Access has failed. Your database might not function correctly. This can occur if you do not have the necessary permissions to install Microsoft Access on this computer."

  1. Been using Office 2016 for months.
  2. Using it as administrator.
  3. I have changed nothing on the computer deliberately.
  4. When I go into Apps and Features I see that the date against Microsoft Access Pro Plus - en - us is 4th. Mar 2018 which is yesterday in Australia. I did not change/add any features.
  5. I have Windows 10 Pro, Version 1709, OS Build 16299.248

Any help appreciated.

BTW how do I see if an update to Office occurred on 4 Mar 2018?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-07T09:47:46+00:00

    I cannot install the Access Engine at all. 

    I downloaded the 32 bits option and the 64bits option.

    When I try to install the 32 option I get:

    But when I the try to install the 64 bit option I get:

    This is crazy. Any advice?

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-07T08:17:20+00:00

    I am downloading it now. Fingers crossed!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-07T07:46:46+00:00

    Did you download the 2016 Microsoft Access Database Engine.  See previous comments.  This fixed my problem

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-07T06:56:32+00:00

    I have uninstalled twice and I am still having the same problem

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-03-07T02:37:05+00:00

    Hi Daniel,

    Thanks for your reply.

    I considered that but by that stage I wanted the quickest possible fix and thought downloading the MSAcess engine might be that.

    Also those who have uninstalled then reinstalled Office (a logical early step) only to find they still have the problem, I don't think the option of a roll-back of the update would be available, would it?

    I am a bit surprised at the slow response from Microsoft this time. It has been a good two days already since this surfaced with no response. I struck it yesterday when I used Access for the first time in a few days. I spent a bit of time investigating and trying Office fix etc before contacting MS Office support, only to be told that they don't support Access. They tried to transfer me to the business group that do support Access but they, understandably, are only available in long office hours and I had just missed them. So I was asked to call back in 12 hours time. I wish had been told then that support for Access is only available with payment, even if it is a MS introduced bug. If I had known, I might not have bothered waiting and moved to attempt a fix myself immediately and not been so annoyed with them.

    My memory of the similar past snafu was that they had a fix being distributed by this time and they certainly had acknowledged and offered advice well before this.

    Regards,

    David Young

    David,

    I can't argue much in your post.  I notified MS of the issue on the 3rd and never heard back myself and had to follow-up myself today to get some form of acknowledgement.  They still haven't added anything to their official bug webpage (https://support.office.com/en-us/article/fixes-or-workarounds-for-recent-issues-in-access-54962069-14f4-4474-823a-ff7e5974a570) either which I don't get considering the number of posts regarding this issue.  Why is it that support staff haven't been made aware either in mind boggling.  By now the message should have been transmitted so if customers contact support they at least know about the issue.  Once again, it is the community that identified the issue and has come up with the 2 possible workarounds.

    I don't hold my breath for a speedy fix either.  How long did it take to patch the missing images issue or the non-functional scrollbars, ... and the list goes on, weeks, months, ...! 

    What a mess!  Thank God for the community is all I can say at this point.

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