Microsoft KB Archive/95904

= ACC: &quot;Cannot Change Working Directory to Default&quot; Error Msg =

Article ID: 95904

Article Last Modified on 5/9/2003

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 2.0 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q95904



Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.



SYMPTOMS
When you start Microsoft Access, you may receive the following error message

Couldn't change working directory to . Click OK or press ENTER to continue.

where  is the path that appears as the Default Database Directory property in the Items box when you choose Options from the View menu.

Choosing OK or pressing ENTER opens Microsoft Access.



CAUSE
You receive this error message if any of the following is true about the Default Database Directory property:


 * The property is not pointing to a valid path.
 * The path is longer than 64 characters.
 * In version 1.x, if the property is a period (.), there is one space before it. This problem does not occur in version 2.0.



RESOLUTION
Make sure that the path shown in the Default Database Directory property does not exceed 64 characters and that no leading space precedes a period if a period is present.



MORE INFORMATION
To check the default directory for Microsoft Access, follow these steps:


 * 1) Start Microsoft Access and open any database.
 * 2) From the View menu, choose Options.
 * 3) In the Category box, select General. In the Items box, select Default Database Directory.

Typically, during Microsoft Access installation, the default directory is set to &quot;.&quot;, which represents the Microsoft Access Startup directory.

You can also set a default directory to &quot;.\subdir&quot; and it will set the default to a subdirectory under the Microsoft Access startup directory called &quot;subdir.&quot; Or you can specify a complete path.

Additional query words: period

Keywords: kberrmsg kbsetup kbprb KB95904

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.