Microsoft KB Archive/233488

= ACC2000: Unable to Synchronize with MSDE/SQL Server on Windows 95 or 98 =

Article ID: 233488

Article Last Modified on 8/9/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q233488



Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).



SYMPTOMS
After creating a SQL Server or MSDE publication on a Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 computer, remote users are able to create pull subscriptions to it. However, all attempts to synchronize with the publication are unsuccessful.

If you use SQL Server Enterprise Manager to examine the job history of the distribution job on the subscriber, you see the following error:

Could not read file due to OS error 3. The step failed.



CAUSE
Remote subscribers are unable to access initial snapshot files located in subfolders of \MSSSQ7\REPLDATA on the publisher.

Snapshot files must be transferred and applied to each remote subscriber before that subscriber can synchronize with the publisher. To retrieve the snapshot files for a publication, the subscribing computer must be able to access data stored in the \MSSQL7\REPLDATA folder of the publisher.



RESOLUTION
Manually create a share on the \MSSQL7\REPLDATA folder on the publisher, and then modify the Snapshot Folder setting in the publisher Properties dialog box by using the SQL Server Replication Tools included in an Access project.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
To enable remote access to snapshot files from a pull subscription, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open Windows Explorer on the Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 computer that is acting as the server.
 * 2) Browse to the \MSSQL\REPLDATA folder on drive C.
 * 3) In Windows Explorer, right-click the \MSSQL\REPLDATA folder and click Properties on the shortcut menu.
 * 4) Click the Sharing tab.

NOTE: If the Properties dialog box doesn't have a Sharing tab, make sure that you have the File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks service installed on your computer.
 * 1) Create a share named REPLDATA that gives all users at least read-only access to the folder.
 * 2) On the computer that is acting as the publisher, open an Access project that is connected to the database that hosts data in your publication.
 * 3) On the Tools menu, point to Replication, and then click Publisher Properties.
 * 4) In the Publishers and Distributor Properties dialog box, click the Publishers tab.
 * 5) In the Servers list, locate the name of your computer. Click the Properties button next to your server name.
 * 6) In the Snapshot folder box, type a UNC path to the share that you created earlier.

For example, if your computer name is MyComputer, and you named the share that you created in step 5 REPLDATA, type \\MyComputer\REPLDATA.
 * 1) Click OK, and then close the Publisher and Distributor Properties dialog box.
 * 2) Drop the original subscription from the remote subscriber, and then re-create it.

