How to Repair MDAC

Step 1: Use Our MDAC Repair Tool

As result of our experiences with MDAC, we've developed a small tool that re-registers the most important MDAC files in the Windows system. This resolves MDAC problems in most cases.

1. Download our MDAC Repair Tool (ca. 300 KB):
   http://www.screechmedia.com/downloads/csrepair.exe

2. After starting the downloaded tool, a list of the MDAC files will be displayed. Click the Re-register MDAC button.
   
   

3. Click the JET tab, and then click the Re-register MS Jet 4.0 button.
   
   

4. Restart Windows and try to run your problematic software again.

5. If the MDAC problem still exists, proceed with step 2 below.

Step 2: Install Latest MDAC Release

1. Our tool shows your general MDAC version information so that you can check whether there is a newer MDAC version available from Microsoft:
   
   
    

2. Download the latest MDAC package from Microsoft and save it to disk.
   Download MDAC 2.8 now
   
   Note: Windows XP SP2 users must reinstall MDAC 2.81 instead.

3. After the download has finished, run the file MDAC_Typ.exe and follow the instructions of the setup.

4. Now restart Windows and try your problematic software again.

5. If the MDAC problem still exists, proceed with step 3 below.

Step 3: Use MDAC Component Checker

Microsoft offers the tool MDAC Component Checker, which you can use to verify the consistency of your MDAC installation.

1. Download MDAC Component Checker

2. After the download has finished, run the file cc_pkg.exe to uncompress the files into the folder C:\ComponentChecker.

3. Open the folder C:\ComponentChecker and run the file cc.exe.

4. Select the option Perform analysis against selected version, choose
   MDAC 2.8 RTM, and then click OK.
   
   

5. After a short analysis, you will see a report with helpful information. In particular, the MISMATCH section (see illustration below) indicates potential problems with your MDAC installation:

   
   
6. Select the MISMATCH item. In the right pane, you can see the MDAC files that should be present in a different version on your computer. (The Component Checker compares the installed file versions with a list of versions that were delivered with MDAC 2.8.)
   
   
7. The Mismatch Field column shows which version is expected for each file. The File Version column shows the actual installed version of each file.

Since a regular installation of MDAC does not seem to help to resolve the mismatched file versions, you must manually copy the concerned files to the listed locations. Unpack the file mdacxpak.cab out of the package MDAC_TYP.exe in a temporary folder with WinZip.

8. The file mdacxpak.cab can be unpacked with WinZip once more. It contains the most important MDAC files. Copy all these files to the folder as stated in the Path column.