Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual

Appendix A. Help and Installation

• Installing Access 2003

• Access Help

• Visiting Microsoft Office Online

Installing Access 2003

Like all Microsoft Office programs, Access is pretty simple to install. The hardest part may be typing that 25-digit Product Key number (and making sure you don’t lose it in case you ever have to reinstall). If you have Microsoft Office 2003 on your computer, you probably already have Access 2003. To check, click Start menu → All Programs → Microsoft Office, and see if Access is on the submenu.

Note

To install Access 2003, your computer has to run on Windows 2000 or Windows XP. If you’re on Windows 2000, Microsoft recommends installing Service Pack 3 and any subsequent updates first. Choose Start → All Programs → Windows Update to check for and install updates. You can also search for updates at www.microsoft.com/windows.

Installing Office

If you’re upgrading or installing Office 2003, you’re best off doing a full install or upgrade, which gives you a clean, fresh copy of all Office programs, auxiliary programs, and files. Nothing breaks up your workflow like getting an error message saying that Access needs you to install additional software.

To install all Office programs and components:

1. Exit all running programs, and then insert the Office 2003 CD.

   The CD launches its own setup and install program. (If it doesn’t, double-click the Setup icon.) You may see messages like “Preparing to Install.”

2. In the first Setup screen, type your Product Key.

   If you make a mistake, you ...