I need help deploying Access 97 silently, and I'm feeling a bit embarrassed about still using such an outdated program. We've automated most processes, but this deployment is a real struggle. I'm having a hard time finding relevant documentation and trying to set up the 'Microsoft Network Installation Wizard 2.1' has been an exercise in frustration since it refuses to read my .LST or .STF files, claiming they aren't from a "post-admin network image". We're a small company, and our development team isn't in a great place; our DBA, who's been around forever, won't budge on upgrading from these old SQL servers, leaving me to work with this outdated application while our new CTO's expensive rebuild in Azure flopped miserably. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Have you considered using App-V? I worked at a hospital where we had old Access 97 databases that were deployed using App-V. It's been a while, so I’m not sure if it’s still a common method, but it helped us push these old apps to users without too much hassle.
Do you have a solid security team? They might have valuable insight on this legacy application problem you're facing. It’s a risky area when dealing with outdated software and security protocols.
Haha, trust me; I’d love to get the right people involved! But we’ve had a shakeup with leadership, and now it's just me and one other guy handling IT.
It's crazy that Access 97 is still functional on Windows 11, right? We had it running on Windows 7, and it caused all sorts of issues with updates. If it works better on 10 or 11, consider yourself lucky!
You’re not wrong! It definitely had its problems back then, but it seems to hold up a bit better on the latest systems.
From what I recall, Access 97 doesn’t support silent installations natively, as that became common only after Windows XP and Server 2003. You might be stuck doing this manually unless you explore other packaging methods.
That’s true, but I remember older MST setups could sustain some sort of silent mode, which could be useful if you dig into it.
Creating a dedicated VM just for Access 97 could be your best bet. That way, you can isolate it from your main network for security, and ensure it's still accessible. Just make sure it’s updated and has proper firewalls. It sounds like a hassle but might save you in the long run.
This is exactly what I'm thinking. Setting up a VM might help keep things secure while we address the bigger underlying issues in the company.
Yeah, I thought App-V might be the answer too. I remember seeing some setups like that, but we tried a ton of solutions that led nowhere, especially with all the changes in direction from management.