Windows 7: Sharing with XP PC works for some files but not others

I just introduced a Win 7 Pro PC into a small business network containing a few XP machines and an XP server. I have a microsoft access file that I want to open on the new Win 7 machine. It, and many others very similar are on the server. When I navigate to the server through the network or through a mapped drive, it doesn't matter, I can double-click and open all the files except the one I want. It won't open. Also if I add a shortcut to the file on the Win 7 machine desktop (the original intent), it still won't open. However, if I open access on the Win 7 machine, do File-open and navigate to the file, it opens. Very strange behavior. I know MS access works, I know the file works, I know I have access to the file (no password or security issues when I open it within access), but for this one file, I can't open it via double click.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Curtis

Curtis,

Please describe what happens when you try to open the file through Explorer. Do you get any sort of errors? Does it happen to OTHER MS Access files or just this one?

When I try to open the file in question in Explorer, the Win 7 circle spins for a second then disappears, nothing happens, no message, nothing.

When I try to open any of the other MS Access files in the same directory, some of which are near copies (since they are older backups) of the same one, I get the "do you want to open this file" security dialog, then I say ok, and they open. So far, I haven't found any other files that don't open. This is the only one, and it is the only one I really am interested in.

But I know the file isn't corrupt or anything, since I can open it from within MS Access. Other computers in the network (all of which are XP machines) can also open the file either from explorer, or via shortcut (also from explorer, obviously).

Also, it doesn't matter whether I double click, right click and "open" or right click and "open with..." then choose MS access.

I know this is a stretch but on a machine that CAN open that file, what if you opened it normally then saved a new copy. Does that new copy ALSO not open in Windows 7?

It's a baffling problem. It possibly could be a corrupted file. Another thing to check is the shell file handlers. Where on earth did Windows' file types manager go? Anyway, fire up FileTypeMan from nirsoft.net, and check the access file extension profile in the Windows 7 machine against one of the machines where there is no problem. Check for Open being the default action, DDE specs, etc.

I "fixed" the problem. I don't know exactly what happened but I have a hunch. I was able to open any of the other similar files in the same folder, but each time, I would get a security warning asking if I was sure. I went and disabled this. Then when I tried to open the one file that wasn't working, it worked. I think what had happened is that one of the network users had hit "No" or "Cancel" instead of "I'm Sure" or "OK" and it must have put some flag on the file that wouldn't allow us to open it, thinking we had intended the system security to keep the file from opening. Once I disabled the security window option, it must have reset the flags. I don't know if this is correct, but only my hunch, being very new to windows 7. But the bottom line is now it works as intended with a double click on the file, or a shortcut, opens MS Access and the file - and what's more, it doesn't ask us if we are sure; it just opens it.

Thanks for looking into this guys.

Thanks for the update! I never would have thought to look there.