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

Question

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?

Answer 1

Hi,

I also faced this issue yesterday.... the MS Support Team uninstalled Office 365 and then reinstalled it.... all Products worked perfectly except MS Access... as per the MS Support Team .. I now need to contact the Product Team to resolve this issue.... however today I downloaded the  Microsoft Database Engine 2016 from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920 ..... MS Access is working perfectly fine....

Answer 2

I just received a notification from the Access Dev Team that they have identified the underlying issue and created a fix.  So if you update your build to 9029.2253 the problem should be resolved.

Also post back should you still have any issue after implementing the update.

Answer 3

I too downloaded 32 bit Office 365, then uninstalled and downloaded 64 bit version.  Before downloading the  Microsoft Database Engine 2016 from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920 a message popped up re uninstall 2010 version of Microsoft Database Engine.  I checked and didn't have it installed in the first place, so after downloading MS Database Engine 2016, it all worked.  Shame the MS Access support people do not provide this advice.  Good luck.  Why hasn't Microsoft notified subscribers to Office 365 that MS Access has a problem, and how to fix it.  Like a game of blind mans bluff!!!

Answer 4

Hi,

I also faced this issue yesterday.... the MS Support Team uninstalled Office 365 and then reinstalled it.... all Products worked perfectly except MS Access... as per the MS Support Team .. I now need to contact the Product Team to resolve this issue.... however today I downloaded the  Microsoft Database Engine 2016 from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920 ..... MS Access is working perfectly fine....

I tried to install the 32 bit version of the above download and the error message said it cannot install as there is a 64 bit version of office installed.

I then tried to install the 64 bit version of the above download and the error message said it cannot install as there is a 32 bit version of office installed.

Wow!!!

Answer 5

Thank you so much for your help.  My Access is working now.  What an ordeal to get this working again and little did I know that it was such an easy fix.