Scott -- you need to be looking at the settings.sdb file. It's right here:
C:\Program Files\ThoroTech\ESROI5\settings.sdb

Please verify that:
A) You have that file in that location.
B) That file is a KNOWN good file. Meaning, you followed the steps posted previously and downloaded a new settings.sdb file after renaming your existing one.

If you are sure that you have the new settings.sdb file in the correct location AND you are getting a "cannot connect error" - then I would say you most definitely have a problem with your Jet DB install on that computer.
So...
1) Why could you not install in Safe Mode- what error msg did you get?
2) Where are you installing jet from? You should be getting it off your EquiSim CD or downloading it from the THOROTECH web site.

I do not know what program could be using Jet and causing problems with the re-install - could be any number of programs.... Go to the Task Manager and see what PROCESSES are running as a starting point.

Also, did EquiSim work on that computer? IF so, did you recently install - OR UNINSTALL - any programs on your computer?

I'm stuck in a loop on this. ES won't start because it believes either Jet is bad or something else has the settings file.

I can't re-install a new copy of jet because some program is using Jet and it says the version of Jet I am installing is at a lower level than what is on the PC. I went to Microsoft and retrieved the latest version of Jet (8.0) and it won't load. Also tried from both the CD and your link - same failure.

Loading Jet for the CD - receives the "another application is using DAO" message.

I followed the instructions and downloaded the settings.db from the Thorostore website.

What level of Jet engine will ES work with? I just installed some new software so I'm certain this is the cause. I ran a search on DAO360.dll and found 4 instances of it. Crosschecking in the registry found two hits on this Dll. Version 3.60.3714.5 and version 3.60.8618.0

What I don't quite understand is the recommendation not to re-install. I can blow away the setting file at will -this was proven by renaming the file. Why won't deleting ES and reinstalling work?

I'm almost positive Jet is functioning. I'm able to retrieve databases in Access, run queries, etc. without any trouble.

Sounds like a version of "Dll Hell" is going on with jet, though not necessarily dlls - perhaps com components. In any case, it sounds like a program installed some stuff that interferes with the working of Jet 3.5. It's hard for me to say exactly what as I'm not sure what all of the components to Jet are. If you have the ability to do a system restore to a previous date that might be the option here if there's no way to get the Jet install that ES likes to run.

The recommendation not to re-install is simply indicating that UNinstalling does NOT remove the settings.sdb file, and re-installing therefore would not put a new one on the computer. Re-installing ES in THIS case will only reinstall the ES program files - and that is not what's causing the problem.

ES uses Jet 3.5 -- ACCESS, for years, has used Jet 4.0. So version 4.0 of Jet could be fine, version 3.5 may not be.

There is a tech note I found dealing with SP3 for Jet 3.5 from Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=172733

This might be worth a shot at seeing if it will run. It also lists the files it updates -- giving an indication of at least some of the .dll files that make up the Jet database engine.

Scott, I'm not sure if this will help but I had a problem once and could not install ES. It turned out that I was missing the autoexec.nt file in my windows folder. I use win2k.

I copied autoexec.nt from c:\windows\repair to the c:\windows\system32 folder.
Holding pattern gave me the idea and it worked for me. Not sure if this is your problem but I thought I would suggest it.

BTW, Holding Pattern seems to be very computer savy, he may have the answer for U if you can contact him. Good luck.

gmeher, Thanks for the tip but the file was in the drive and the timestamp was equal to the copy in the repair drive.

Nathan - the Jet 3.5 SP3 did the trick. There's some security updates in the patch. I deinstalled everything related to ES and rebuilt from scratch so you will see some emails about activation. DBDirect is not quite working - missing the connection, but that battle will be for tomorrow.

I have a feeling the latest version of Money requires this SP and that's what may have confused ES. I'd be curious if anyone installed Money 2006 and has the same problem. I was fine with my old version of Money but my bank forced me to upgrade.

Thanks for the help.

Scott

I have found what caused this problem in my system.

I downloaded a FV from my yahoo mail account that was sent night before last and had this same problem occur. Did the same thing this evening with a different FV, from yahoo mail, and wham, same thing happened.

What I have found is, if you'll control/alt delete, and end the task manager on equisim,( notice the numbers keep bounceing around to the right) then go back and delete the FV. I then forwarded the email to my regular account and downloaded it and everything runs fine.

The posts above are how I solved the problem the first time.

Clear as mud?


Jack