AutoCAD Electrical launch errors-Microsoft Access Database Engine cannot be located or driver ‘AceRedist’ is missing

Issue:

AutoCAD Electrical launches but errors that the ‘Microsoft Access Database 2016’ install or ‘AceRedist’ driver is missing pop-up

Causes:

• Microsoft Access Database Engine is not installed
• A recent Office 365 update is causing the error to reoccur
• Microsoft Access Database Engine is installed but the AceDriverTest.exe fails to validate it
• The antivirus may be corrupting the mdb files

Solution:

Update on September 1st 2022 for AutoCAD Electrical 2023 only :

Install the AutoCAD Electrical 2023 Update 2023.0.1 to fix the defect 'Install Access database engine dialog box no longer displays a false alarm for some scenarios when launching AutoCAD Electrical.'

This will update the AceDriverTest.exe file to version 20.0.73.0, there's no need to apply the Hotfix below if it wasn't previously applied.

Update on May 26th 2022 for AutoCAD Electrical 2020-2023:

First try the AutoCAD_Electrical_Database_Connection_Hotfix available here:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-electrical/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCAD-Electrical-2020-to-2023-database-connection-Hotfix-Installation.html

The Hotfix provides an updated AceDriverTest.exe file version 20.0.53.1.

And the workarounds provided here: Microsoft Access Database Error

For errors installing AutoCAD Electrical see:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-electrical/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Microsoft-Access-Database-Engine-compatibility-issues-with-AutoCAD-Electrical.html

1. Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Access Database Engine.
2. If using Office 365 a recent update causes the error to reoccur, edit a registry entry to prevent it. 
3. Add  anti-virus exceptions for a list of file types.

AutoCAD Electrical 2021-2023:

• Uninstall Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016(and any older version of Access Database Engine) from Control Panel.

​

• Reinstall Microsoft Access Database Engine 64-bit (If needed use Microsoft install troubleshooter to completely remove Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 before reinstalling.)

See Solution here for complete steps:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-electrical/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Launch-Issues-in-AutoCAD-Electrical-2021.html

AutoCAD Electrical 2020:

• Uninstall Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 from Control Panel.

• Reinstall Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 .

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-The-driver-AceRedist-is-missing.html

If using Office 365:

A recent Office 365 update can cause the error to reoccur. Edit this registry key to prevent the error.  The registry key will need to edited after any future updates as well:

See the reference in this recent Autodesk article.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\{3BE786A0-0366-4F5C-9434-25CF162E475E}\InprocServer32\(Default)

After the Office 365 update the path is changed to this:

• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\VFS\ProgramFilesCommonX64\Microsoft Shared\Office16\ACEOLEDB.DLL(file version 16.0.15128.20112)

Change the path to the older value:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE16\ACEOLEDB.DLL( file version 16.0.5011.1000)

Add the following list of files to your anti-virus exception list :

• 3ds, ac$, apj, bak, ctb, cui, cuix, dcl, dst, dwf, dwg, dwl, dwl2, dwt, fbx, ipt, iam, idw, ipn, ipj, lin, ma, mat, max, mb, mns, mnu, pat, pgp, rfa, rft, rte, rvt, rws, dat, slog, shp, shx, stb, sv$
• AceDriverTest.exe(see the 'Check' note at the end)
• Optional files: .sq* (sqlite), .wdp, .ldb, .mdb, .mui, .aux, .chm, revit*.xml.zip

About the Author

Manufacturing Technical Support Specialist<br><br>Joanna has over eight years of experience working with Autodesk products. She started supporting core AutoCAD and network installations of all Autodesk products. She now has five years of experience with Inventor. <br> She graduated from Mechanical Engineering and has been providing solutions to clients and dedicating her knowledge to the Solution Center since then.

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