Starting Access

You can start Access from the Start menu or the desktop. When you're choosing how to start Access, you need to decide if you want to create a new database or open an existing one. When you open Access from the Start menu, you make this choice from within Access.

Start Access from the Start Menu

Click the Start button on the taskbar.

Point to All Programs.

Click Microsoft Office.

Click Microsoft Office Access 2003.

The first time you start an Office program, an Activation Wizard opens; follow the instructions to activate the product.

Did You Know? You can create a program shortcut from the Start menu to the desktop. Click the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office, right-click Microsoft Office Access 2003, point to Send To, and then click Desktop (Create Shortcut). You can start Access and open a database from Windows Explorer. Double-clicking any Access database icon in Windows Explorer opens that file and Access.