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Where can I get Access 2003 to open an old Access MDB and update it to .accdb

Anonymous
2025-02-09T20:14:43+00:00

My current Access cannot open the old MDB file format. I think the last one that could read MDB was Access 2003.

I might be able to find an Access 2003 runtime, but would it let me do a "Save As" to a ACCDB format?

And if I do find one, then would installing it mess up my current Office 2021 installation? Might need to make a VM to do this.

Or do you know any other way to update this old DB?

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  1. ScottGem 68,810 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-10T13:28:30+00:00

    Again, 2007 and 2010 should open any mdb and allow it to be saved as an accdb.

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  2. ScottGem 68,810 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-09T22:08:02+00:00

    If your version of Access won't open the file, then you need an earlier version. I would suggest Access 2010. It should open any mdb and allow you to Save As an accdb.

    How many of these do you have?

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-02-09T21:31:39+00:00

    Thanks George. You say "They can, however, be converted to a version of mdb (Jet 4.0) or accdb that can be opened with the later versions of Access.". How do I do that?

    I have a few databases of that vintage and I am no longer sure what is in each one. So I was really hoping to just open them and see what's there and bring them forward to current software if I wanted them still.

    The thought about SQL was that import/export facilities ought to be able to save the data tables and rows and that might be the easiest way to decide if I want the more complicated solutions to also save the user interface (if there even is one).

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  4. George Hepworth 22,680 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-09T20:56:42+00:00

    Neither SQL Server nor SQL Lite have anything to do with the Access mdb. It's a difference of apples and oranges hot dogs.

    You might find an old copy of Access 2003 on EBay or someplace.

    All versions of Access up to the current versions of M365 and Access 2024 can open some mdbs. Those created in much older versions of Access, though, such as Access 97 or Access 2000, (Jet 3.5) cannot be opened in newer versions of Access. They can, however, be converted to a version of mdb (Jet 4.0) or accdb that can be opened with the later versions of Access.

    Some developers maintain older versions of Access for client work. Perhaps someone with an Access 2003 installation could convert it for you. My A2003 VM is broken and I can't do so at the moment, unfortunately. Perhaps one of the regulars here can respond. You'd have to make the mdb available to them.

    BTW, Access Runtime is, as the name suggests, strictly for running Access databases (mdb, mde, accdb, accde). It includes none of the development or maintenance tools needed to create, modify or save those Access databases.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-09T20:29:37+00:00

    I did some more research - the Save As is disabled on the Access Runtime, so that's a non-starter.

    Access 2003 and 2021 would mess each other up so running a VM just to run 2003 seems the best way.

    So now I am looking for an installable Access 2003 - any idea where to get one?

    Another option might be to use SQLite to import the MDB and save it as an .sqlite file, then use an ODBC connector on the current Access to read the SQLite file. That (theoretically) would get all the data but it loses all the forms ... so not the first choice.

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