"Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source" when you run the Setup program for Office

Symptoms

When you run the Setup program for any of the programs listed in the "Applies to" section, you may receive the following error message:

Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: MS Access Database. ODBC error 6: Component not found in the registry. Verify that the file MS Access Database exists and that you can access it.

If you select Ignore, you may receive the following error message:

Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: Excel Files. ODBC error 0: Verify that the file Excel Files exists and that you can access it.

You may also receive any one of the following error messages:

  • Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: MS Access Database. ODBC error 0: Verify that the file MS Access Database exists and that you can access it.

  • Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: Visual FoxPro Database. ODBC error 0: Verify that the file Visual FoxPro Database exists and that you can access it.

  • Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: Visual FoxPro Tables. ODBC error 0: Verify that the file Visual FoxPro Tables exists and that you can access it.

  • Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source: dBASE Files. ODBC error 6: Verify that the file dBASE Files exists and that you can access it.

Cause

These problems may occur if the Windows Registry is missing some registry keys.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, replace the missing registry keys. To do this, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install MDAC 2.8

For more information about MDAC 2.8, including installation and removal instructions, see Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) Installation.

After you have installed MDAC 2.8, you must restart the computer and log on with administrative credentials.

Note

MDAC 2.8 is also installed when you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). If the operating system is Windows XP, you may choose to install Windows XP SP2 instead of following the previous steps.

Method 2: Reset the registry keys by using the Mdac.inf file

Use Mdac.inf to reset the registry keys. This program may prompt you for your Windows CD to obtain new files.

Do one of the following as appropriate for your operating system and if you have the Windows CD.

For the retail editions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003

  1. Click Start, click Run, type path\inf in the Open box, and then click OK.

    In this example, path is the path of your Windows folder. For example, type C:\Windows\Inf or C:\Winnt. By default, C:\Windows is the folder where Windows XP is installed, C:\Winnt is the folder where Windows XP is installed if you upgraded Windows 2000 to Windows XP.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.

  3. On the View tab, in the Advanced Settings box, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

  4. Right-click Mdac.inf, and then click Install.

  5. If you are prompted for your Windows CD, insert the Windows CD in the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive.

  6. Click the I386 folder on your hard disk (typically, C:\I386), and then click OK.

    If the I386 folder is a subfolder of the Windows folder, on some computers, you can't select it. In this case, type the full path in the Copy files from box (for example, type C:\Windows\I386 or C:\Winnt\I386), and then click OK.

  7. Restart the computer.

For original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Editions of Windows XP

Important

This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

Step 1: Modify the registry keys

  1. Locate the I386 folder on your hard disk, and then make a note of its path.

  2. Click Start, and then click Run.

  3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

  4. In Registry Editor, locate and then click the following key:

    HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

  5. Right-click the Installation Sources entry, and then click Modify.

  6. In the Value data box, change the value to the path of the I386 folder on your hard disk, and then click OK.

  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each of the following entries:

    • SourcePath
    • ServicePackSourcePath
  8. Quit Registry Editor.

Step 2: Install Mdac.inf

  1. Click Start, click Run, type C:\Winnt\Inf in the Open box, and then click OK.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.

  3. On the View tab in the Advanced Settings box, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

  4. Right-click Mdac.inf, and then click Install.

  5. If you are prompted for your Windows CD, insert the Windows CD in the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive.

  6. Click the I386 folder on your hard disk (typically, C:\I386), and then click OK.

    Note

    • If you don't have the CD for your current Windows installation, click Browse, and then locate and select the I386 folder.
    • If the I386 folder is a subfolder of the Windows folder, on some computers, you can't select it. In this case, type the full path in the Copy files from box (for example, type C:\Windows\I386 or C:\Winnt\I386), and then click OK.
  7. Restart your computer.

Method 3: Import the registry keys from another computer on the network

Note When you import the registry keys from another computer, make sure that the source computer and destination computer run the same operating system. For example, if you are using this method on a computer that is running Windows XP, locate a computer that runs Windows XP that you can use to export the registry keys.

Important

This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

Part 1: Export the keys from the registry on the "source" computer

  1. On a computer that is not missing the keys (the "source" computer), click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.

  2. Locate and then click the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ODBC

  3. On the File menu, click Export.

  4. In the Save in box, specify a location to temporarily save the registration file (.reg file).

    In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.

  5. Locate and then click the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ODBC

  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to export this key.

Part 2: Import the keys to the registry of the "destination" computer

  1. Copy the exported .reg files from the source computer to a temporary location on the computer that is missing the keys (the "destination" computer).
  2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File.
  4. Locate and then click one of the .reg files that you copied in step 1, and then click Open.
  5. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the other .reg file.

Workaround

You may be able to work around this problem by clicking Retry several times when you receive these error messages. However, this work around may not work in the long term.