MDAC Versions Problem

  • I had an "adventure" at work relating to MDAC versions and it made me look closer into the matter. To my surprise, I found that Win2k (even with Sp3) installs MDAC 2.5. Versions 2.6 and 2.7 have been available for some time and I wonder if there is a reason(i.e. problem) why the later versions aren't installed automatically.

    TIA,

    Bill

    P.S. The problem I was having is that our server had MDAC 2.5 installed and the programmers created COM objects using MDAC 2.6 (on their local machines). Their COM objects worked fine on their machines but spawned errors on the server that didn't have any apparent relationship to MDAC. Drove us crazy.

    P.P.S. You can determine the MDAC version installed on your box using regedit. Look to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DataAccess -- see "FullInstallVer" in the right pane.

  • The reason is MDAC is not a critical component of the Win 2000 OS. The Service Pack only pertains to OS issues, SP3 does not install any MDAC updates at all. MDAC is shipped with the OS but not an itegral part of the OS's operation.

  • MS also publishes a 'component checker' that will tell you exactly which MDAC(s) are installed. We're on 2.6 now, dont expect upgrading to 2.7 to present any issues. Note that there is a major vulnerability in 2.6 and lower that requires a patch recently published.

    Andy

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/columnists/awarren/

  • Thanks for the help!

    According to a note I saw on Technet you can also find the MDAC version installed using regedit:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DataAccess\FullInstallVer

    "FullInstallVer" appears in the right pane

    Question: I heard that MDAC 3.0 is out but I think that 2.7 is the latest. Please comment.

    TIA,

    Bill

  • Thanks for the help!

    According to a note I saw on Technet you can also find the MDAC version installed using regedit:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DataAccess\FullInstallVer

    "FullInstallVer" appears in the right pane

    Question: I heard that MDAC 3.0 is out but I think that 2.7 is the latest. Please comment.

    TIA,

    Bill

  • quote:


    Question: I heard that MDAC 3.0 is out but I think that 2.7 is the latest. Please comment.


    http://www.microsoft.com/data/ makes no mention of V3. 2.7 is the latest available to download.

  • Unless this is in the Beta area for subscribers I have not seen any mention on TechNet.

  • I highly recommend getting MDAC Ver 2.7 if you distribute files to your customers that they access SQL with. In addition to the previously noted vulnerability that affects versions 2.6 and lower, sooner or later one or more of your customers will upgrade to 2.7 on their own (probably by installing some MS program that happens to bring it) or get an XP machine that has it built in. You never want your customers on higher versions than you build and test with.

    We upgraded our development machines, servers, and customer install files from MDAC 2.6 to 2.7 back in July or August when the 2.7 refresh came out, and had zero problems in 450 companies.

    The source for info and files is www.microsoft.com/data

    Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither


    Student of SQL and Golf, Master of Neither

  • Just keep in mind to test 2.7 with the components as a few things were removed and may inadvertently cause issues. If they test clean then have the developers also move to 2.7 to make sure you are all on the same page.

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