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Installing (or Reinstalling) MDAC Files for Windows XP

Posted by Keith Colegrove on 07 April 2010 01:07 PM

Installing (or Reinstalling) MDAC Files for Windows XP with SP2 or SP3

NOTE: If you are using Windows XP with SP1 (Service Pack 1) then installing Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 will update both the MDAC and Jet 4.0 files.

If you already have Windows XP with SP2 (Service Pack 2) installed, you can follow these directions to re-install the MDAC file. You should also be able to install Service Pack 3 for Windows XP if it is not already installed to repair MDAC. If you already have Service Pack 3 installed and need to repair MDAC, these instructions still apply, though the file paths may be slightly different.

Background

Windows XP with Service Pack 2 contains MDAC version 2.81, which is currently not available for download at the Microsoft Web site as a standalone installation. If you try to install MDAC 2.8, which is the latest available standalone download of MDAC, you will receive a message that you already have a newer version of MDAC installed. Therefore, under Windows XP SP2, you must manually repair MDAC 2.81 as outlined below.

Option 1: Install MDAC 2.6 SP2

1.	Install MDAC 2.6 SP2
2.	Register the service by going to start-run, type: Regsvr32.exe C:\progra~1\common~1\system\ado\Msado15.dll

Option 2: Attempt to Repair MDAC
How to Repair MDAC for Windows XP with SP2

1. In Windows Explorer, open the c:\Windows\Inf folder. NOTE: If you cannot see the c:\Windows\Inf folder, please follow these steps:
		a. Click START, click My Computer, and then click Folder Options on the Tools menu.
		b. Click the View tab.
		c. Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files and folders.
		d. Click to clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box
		e. Click Apply, and then click OK.

2. In the c:\Windows\Inf folder, right-click the Mdac.inf file, and then click Install.

3. When you are prompted to insert the Windows XP SP2 CD, use one of the following methods:
	I.	If you have a Windows XP SP2 CD:
		a. Insert the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD in the CD or DVD drive. Note If a "Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP" message appears, click Exit.
		b. Click Browse.
		c. In the File name box, type CD drive letter:\i386. For example, if the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD is in drive D, replace CD drive letter with "D" and type D:\i386
		d. Click Open.
	II.	If you do not have a Windows XP SP2 CD: NOTE: See "HOW TO SEARCH FOR FILES" below if you have trouble locating one of these files.
		a. In the File name box, type %systemroot%\windows\servicepackfiles\i386, and then click Open. NOTE: %systemroot% is the Drive letter and Path to where windows is installed. Typically, this is "C:\". Thus, the above would be: C:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386
		b. When prompted for adcjavas.inc, point to C:\Windows\servicepackfiles\i386 NOTE: If you cannot find this folder put the Windows CD into your CD drive and browse for that file.
		c. When prompted for the file handler.reg, either point to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\msadc, or put the Windows XP CD in your CD-ROM drive.
		d. If prompted for MDACRdMe.htm, point to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ado. NOTE: If this file is not present rename the file MDACReadme.htm to MDACRdMe.htm.
		e. If prompted for oledbjvs.inc, point to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB.
		f. If prompted for mssoap1.dll, point to C:\Program Files\Common Files\MSSoap\Binaries.
		g. If prompted for mssoapr.dll, point to C:\Program Files\Common Files\MSSoap\Binaries NOTE: If this file is not present in that folder, browse to the subfolders below and see if it is there

4.	You may also be prompted for the original Windows XP CD that was used to install the operating system.
		a. Insert the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD in the CD or DVD drive. NOTE: If a "Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP" message appears, click Exit.
		b. Click Browse.
		c. In the File name box, type CD drive letter:\i386. For example, if the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD is in drive D, replace CD drive letter with "D" and type D:\i386 .
		d. Click Open.

5.	After installing MDAC above, you may need to attempt to install (or re-install) the Jet 4.0 files. Please read the note in 5.b below first. You will need to read the article below and refer to the directions for your version of Windows
		a. Click here to download the "Jet 4.0" Component Installer (Version 4.0).
		b. NOTE: With Windows XP SP2 OR SP3, if you have the latest security patches installed and are completely up to date with the Windows XP SP2 security bulletin updates, you will not be able to download and re-install the Jet 4.0 files because the latest updates should already be installed on your computer.

HOW TO SEARCH FOR FILES: In the case you cannot find any of the above files in the folders that are specified, you can select START then Search then For Files or Folders and then click "All Files and Folders" and enter the file name under "All or part of the file name:" and for the "Look in" field, specify your primary hard drive (usually C:). Once you locate one of the files, you will need to use the Browse option to point to (or navigate) to the folder where that file is stored. You may also need to select the options to search in hidden files and folders and system files.

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