ADODB Connection - Error: Data source name not found and no default driver specified

Question

I never had problems connecting to Access DBs in the past using ODBC. Now I am trying to connect using ADO/OLEDB and I am getting this error (DSNless connection):

System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: [Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Data source name not found and no default driver specified.

I am no longer using ODBC. As I said I am using ADO/OLEDB. Here's my code:

var conString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=d:\\test.mdb";
// I've also tried the one below, same error
// var conString = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=d:\\test.mdb";
var con = new ADODB.Connection( conString );
// bombs here
con.Open();

I've looked at almost everything Google and this site has regarding this error with MS Access. I've tried changing my projects back to 32-bit (x86). Nothing seems to work.

Anyone have any ideas?

UPDATE: I need an ADODB connection because I am using ADOX which requires an ADODB connection.

var cat = new Catalog();
// this line below will bomb for ODBC or OLEDB
cat.ActiveConnection = con;

Answer 1

Try making OLEDB connection. Also please mention the output .

Imports System.Data.OleDb
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    Dim connetionString As String
    Dim cnn As OleDbConnection
    connetionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=yourdatabasename.mdb;"
    cnn = New OleDbConnection(connetionString)
    Try
        cnn.Open()
        MsgBox("Connection Open ! ")
        cnn.Close()
    Catch ex As Exception
        MsgBox("Can not open connection ! ")
    End Try
End Sub
End Class

You need to provide the specific Driver Info While making the connection .Follow the Next code .

Imports System.Data.Odbc
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    Dim connetionString As String
    Dim cnn As OdbcConnection
    connetionString = "Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};DBQ=yourdatabasename.mdb;"
    cnn = New OdbcConnection(connetionString)
    Try
        cnn.Open()
        MsgBox("Connection Open ! ")
        cnn.Close()
    Catch ex As Exception
        MsgBox("Can not open connection ! ")
    End Try
End Sub
End Class

Answer 2

You have to install OLEDB drivers which required to make connection:

Connection string:

<add name="ConnectionString" connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source d:\\\\test.mdb;Persist Security Info=False;" />

Drivers can install from below link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=13255

Answer 3

I was just wrestling with this problem and I found an odd solution that worked for me:

        // NOTE: this way doesn't work.  It throws an error:
        //  System.RuntimeInteropServices.COMException (0x80004005): [Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Data source name not found and no default driver specified at ADODB.Connection.Open
        //_connection = new Connection(_connectionString);
        //_connection.Open();

        // This way *does* work.
        _connection = new Connection();
        _connection.Open(_connectionString, null, null, 0);