Data Backed Up But Not The Bespoke Database Program

Not quite sure where to start with this. An elderly friend of mine had a bespoke piece of software 'written' for him - which was essentially a special configuration of MS Access (2000 I believe). He has been happily running it to run his consultancy, with details of his clients, their family and other data, plus accounts information for invoicing. This is fully encrypted and backed up on a regular basis. However, the person who 'wrote' the software has gone abroad and is not contactable - and my friend has no disk of this bespoke version of Access. If his hard drive got trashed I suspect that, although the data would be sort-of available, he would no longer have access to it in any usable form. Am I wrong? In any case - what are his options?

 

Thanks Steve - I wasn't sure what the exact implications of 'cloning' are. I take it that if he uses cloning software to backup his hard drive onto - say, an external drive - then needs to buy a new computer at some stage - he could reinstate his 'old drive' from the clone on the external backup drive onto a partition of his new computer's drive(s) - and then what? Would that (skipping a few logical steps) make his new system a dual-boot system automatically? Or would he need to make it so, in order to access stuff on the new partition? Seems a pity to completely overwrite a 'new improved' OS with an ancient XP system...

Or, far far simpler, could he simply, then, reinstall only his Access-based program back onto the main drive of his new system? Presumably not, as the backup would be a single 'image' file of the whole old system.

Easy to clone - not so easy to reinstall, methinks.

I've never had to face this problem myself. I practice both 'backup' and 'duplicate' (particular files and directories) of my own system using EMC Retrospect 7.6 - but I don't really ever expect to need to use the 'backup', really, as while reinstalling all of my own programs may be tedious - at least I have them on their original CDs or installation files to reinstall, along with their unlock keys, etc.

 

Actually - one other thing occurred to me. If he were to install a vanilla MS Access 2000 (if he can get it) onto his (new) system - and then imported his (normally) backed up data onto it - would it look like his original bespoke program? In other words, would Access import all the bespoke macros and design settings from his backed up data, I wonder?

 

If this is indeed an important database, your friend should STRONGLY consider getting professional assistance from a competent Access developer!

There are NUMEROUS possibilities here, many of which could damage the functionality of the database, and or the actual data.
Just one of the many possible scenarios is that the original developer may have loaded much, if not all of the code in a compiled MDE and "hid" it in an uncommon directory, or may have set an atrribute as hidden so you can't even see it under normal conditions. This may be so, even while the actual data could be stored in an MDB.
In this scenario, unless BOTH databases are backed up, AND restored to the same paths with the same code references in any new version of Access, your database may not function, OR the developer may have even embedded code to destroy any copies.

In theory, the database should not necessarily require Access 2000 to run, but in any new version, the same settings would need to be enabled. For example macros would need to be enabled, and or is the developer using the /runtime switch or is there a third workgroup database to control access to it.

In short, there are MANY MANY possiblities here, some not so bad and some extremely bad.

If this is a valuable functon for your friend, my best advice is to not be penny wise and pound foolish.
get a new developer to appraise the situation before the worst case scenario happens.

Trust me, I am an Access Developer (I am not seeking any new clients as I am in a new contract with Microsoft) and I have seen some real horror stories when an original developer quits or leaves town or retires.

 

Thanks Bilb0 - that, actually, was my first comment to my friend - find an Access developer. He is, however, near retirement and will almost certainly not be able to afford the consultancy fees...

 

getting an evaluation at to how best to protect the database and code and understand the existing system as well as upgradability should not require a great deal of time.

These are great general forums here, but if even the basic evaluation is out of reach, I strongly suggest you visit the forums at:
http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/

 

Now that is really, really useful. Many thanks Bilb0!