PRB: Installing Third-Party Product Breaks Windows 2000 MDAC Registry Settings

When you are trying to use Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) in your applications, you may receive one of the following error messages:

The registry settings for MDAC components have been altered to reflect incorrect version information for older versions of MDAC or permissions have been modified on MDAC related keys in the registry. Currently, the products known to cause this problem are Cold Fusion (when installing the advanced security features) and Crystal Reports Web Server 8.

NOTE: The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Workarounds for Products Known to Cause This Problem with MDAC

Cold Fusion 4.5

After installing Cold Fusion 4.5 with the Advanced Security Features, you begin to receive one of the error messages: Currently the only way to correct the problem is to reinstall the operating system. You can choose the Upgrade option to retain all your applications and settings.

Crystal Reports 8

After installing Crystal Reports 8, you begin to receive the error: Ensure that the Data Source Name (DSN) that you are referencing does exist. If you are developing an ASP page, ensure that your DSN is a System DSN, not a User DSN.

1. On the Start menu, click Run, and then type regedt32 in the Run window to open the program.
2. On the HKEY_Local_Machine window, browse down to the folder ODBC located at:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC\ODBC.INI
   					

3. Click on the DSN you have created, and then click on the Security menu item and choose Permissions. Make sure that the appropriate account has permission to this registry key.

On Microsoft Windows 2000, the resolution is to reinstall the Operating System. Simply start the setup of Windows 2000, select the UPGRADE Option, and the installation process corrects all corrupted registry settings. All the applications and files remain intact.

On a Microsoft Windows NT 4 computer, you can reinstall any version of MDAC that is currently available for download at the following Microsoft Web site:

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: