title: ODBC Excel Driver: Unexpected error from external database driver
body: <p>Since the Windows update from October 10, the ODBC Excel drivers have stopped working. We get the following error when trying to read a file:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>"Unexpected error from external database driver (1)"</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>We open Excel files in Delphi using an ADO connection with the following connection string:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\MyExcel.xls;Extended Properties="Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes;IMEX=1";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I can get it to work by switching to Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0, but for that to work, all our customers would have to install the Microsoft Access Database Engine Redistributable on all the computers they use our software on.</p>
  
  <p>Does anybody have another solution or workaround? Thanks in advance.</p>