Provider cannot be found.

This is by far the most common error that users get when attempting to connect with my database.

Step 1 (optional). I recommend that you download the latest versions of the free Microsoft Data Access Components from http://www.microsoft.com/data/download.htm.

Windows 95 users - please note that you must install DCOM first, as described on the above page.

Step 2. Experiment with different settings in the CYA configuration file, include/config.asp. This file contains a section that defines the database connection.

The relevant parameter is sDBDriver, as shown below:

// ============================================ // database configuration // ============================================ // OLE DB Provider constants var sAccess9x = 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.2.5'; var sAccess97 = 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.3.51'; var sAccess2000 = 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0'; var sSQLServer = 'SQLOLEDB.1'; // which am I using? var sDBDriver = sAccess97;

Try setting sDBDriver to any of the other constants, and try again. If you've installed the latest MDAC, you'll be able to use the sAccess2000 setting.

Step 3. To find out the exact setting required in config.asp, there is one more possibility, but it involves searching in the registry.

Note that making any changes to settings in the registry can make your computer unusuable, perhaps permanently.

Run the Registry Editor by opening the Start menu and selecting "Run...". Type regedit.exe into the dialog box and click on OK.

Next, open the Edit menu and choose "Find...". The dialog below will appear:

Type in the search phrase shown above, then click the "Find Next" button. When you see a screen like that below, make note of the number at the end of the description. Set the sDBDriver variable in include/config.asp to that description.