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Error message when you try to install an Access 2003 add-in for all users by using the Add-In Manager on a Windows Vista-based computer: "There was an error adding to the registry"

Article ID: 938809 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a Microsoft Office Access 2003 add-in for all users on a Windows Vista-based computer that is running Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) by using the Add-In Manager, you receive the following error:

There was an error adding to the registry.

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CAUSE

In Windows operating systems that are older than Windows Vista, administrators can install an Access 2003 add-in for all users by using the Add-In Manager to create a registry key in the Windows registry. This registry key is in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry path. However, this registry path is inaccessible to users in Windows Vista. Therefore, the installation of Access 2003 add-ins is prevented.

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WORKAROUND

Install Office 2003 SP3

To work around this issue, install Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3). In Office 2003 SP3, the registry key is added to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry path when you use the Add-In Manager to install an add-in. Because this path is available only on an individual user basis, you cannot install an Access 2003 add-in for all users after you install Office 2003 SP3. Each user must install the add-in individually. The new registry key will be located in the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Access\Menu Add-Ins\

Run Access 2003 with elevated permissions

To work around this issue, run Access 2003 SP2 with elevated permissions in Windows Vista, and then install the add-in. To do this, follow these steps:

Click Start
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, click All Programs, click Microsoft Office, and then right-click Microsoft Office Access 2003.
Click Run as administrator.
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If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
Use the Add-In manager to install the add-in for all users.

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to obtain the latest Office 2003 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

870924

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/870924/ )

How to obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003

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