### Author:  [@Eliphalet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eliphalet)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/1 "2003-08-26T19:19:44Z")
OK, this one is a bit esoteric, but I thought if anyone could come up with answer, it would be you-all.
I run Windows 2000, (Service Pack 5) on a reasonably new Dell Pentium 4 with 1Gb of RAM.
For my work, I create and run MS Access queries, programs and reports. Big ‘uns. In some cases, 10-30 million rows of data. (For those that want the technical terminology, I ODBC to an Oracle DMS Server). This means really long queries and waits while the query is processing.
The problem I have is while queries are running (both ODBC, and internal to Access); Access causes other Microsoft products to lock up. For example, while Access is processing, I can surf the net, UNTIL a pop-up occurs.
IE locks up EVERY TIME that a pop-up window appears, and Access is processing. No error, it just stops displaying everything. I can \ tab to other programs
I can open another copy of IE, and it will work until I hit another pop-up. Then it locks up also.
When Access completes its processing, everything frees up, and suddenly I’m hit with all of the pop-ups that were encountered during the process. ( I know, I can load some pop-up killer, but this is my work PC, and they frown upon unauthorized software)
Other Microsoft products have the same issue, in the following frequency order: Outlook (opening attachments), Start Menu, Excel (opening Save As menu), and Word. However, the other programs (mostly proprietary) that I run simultaneously don’t lock up. Ever. I’ve tried to lock them up, and had no luck.
I’ve lived with this issue for almost a year, so this is not a new phenomenon. I’m guessing that MS allots a particular DLL (or something) to the Access job, rendering it unavailable to other MS programs. But I’d like to fix/improve the issue so that I can really multi-task while Access is running.
Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/2 "2003-08-26T21:04:53Z")
I’ve experienced this and the only reasonable solution I came up with is to set up a dedicated machine to run all of my access stuff (as an aside I put all of the queries in macros and use batch files to run the databases at pre-determined times so no user intervention is required - that way I don’t have to remember to do this stuff and it’s always ready when I need it).
So in short I would recommend another PC dedicated to your Access work, and another for e-mail, Word, Excel etc. Access is just a big hog and will grab all the resources it can to the detriment of all other programs.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/3 "2003-08-26T23:12:07Z")
My employer used to have a proprietary system that issued nearly constant writes to an Access database, 24/7 in a 365 application.
Engineering discovered the very problems you cite, and as a result the next revision of the application used an SQL back-end, and totally removed Access from the devices.
Things got much, much faster. And more reliable.
In short, the phenomenon you experience is not unique.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/4 "2003-08-26T23:32:18Z")
There may not be a satisfactory solution to this other than switching to a multiprocessor machine. However, you could experiment with changing the priority of Access. Hit **Ctrl-Alt-Del** , choose **Task Manager** , and go to the **Processes** tab. Right-click **MSACCESS.EXE** , go to **Set Priority** and choose **BelowNormal** or **Low**. (Note: Do _not_ set it to **Realtime**.) In theory this will devote less processing power to Access and more to your other programs. In practice the results are unpredicable, so you may have to play with it a little.
So where did you get Service Pack 5? Do you have friends at Microsoft?
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### Author:  [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/5 "2003-08-26T23:46:26Z")
How about you switch your browswer to Firebird, that automatically blocks pop-ups? That might work.
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### Author:  [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/6 "2003-08-27T01:57:15Z")
Because Firebird can’t do word processing, spreadsheets, or open the Start menu, maybe?
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### Author:  [@Eliphalet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eliphalet)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/7 "2003-08-27T13:54:02Z")
**Number**
I do have \ “friends” at MS, but I also seem to have an irrational need to press “5” instead of “3”.
To the rest of you:
So I’m not alone in this phenomenon; that’s nice to know. I’ll try playing with the priorities, and start lobbying my Director for an additional machine.
I knew you would come through for me! Thanks!!
Eli
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/8 "2003-08-27T14:34:09Z")
Does Oracle support remote functions? Then the remote server can do the brunt of the work, and merely transfer the data back to Access.
Another option is running a virtual machine (VM) such as Virtual PC or VMWare. Install Access on the VM and let it hog all of the VM’s resources.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/9 "2003-08-27T14:55:26Z")
Speaking of service packs, have you installed the [;282010]latest one]([http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;)[LN) for the Jet database engine? It should show up in [Windows Update](http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/) under **Recommended Updates** if it’s not already on your system.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/10 "2003-08-27T15:04:29Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Balthisar \*
> \*\*Does Oracle support remote functions? Then the remote server can do the brunt of the work, and merely transfer the data back to Access. \*\*
I know this can be done but honestly I don’t know how to do it.
I’m also going to give a shameless plug to a great site I recommend for anyone using Access – **[UtterAccess.com](http://UtterAccess.com)** is a great resource! The members are helpful and nearly godlike in their knowledge of all things relating to MS Access!
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### Author:  [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durn-winders-ain-t-werkin-or-how-do-i-get-ms-access-to-multi-task/197814/11 "2003-08-27T15:44:05Z")
Do you have more than one version of Access installed remotely? I was getting odd conflicts like this when I had Access 97 and 2000 both installed on the same machine.