I write Access database programs for a couple of non-profit groups.  When I make a change, I upload the changed program to an ftp site, alert them to download again, and off they go with the new version.  Been doing this for several years.  Fast forward to today: husband just bought new Win 8.1 computer.  I installed the Access 2010 Runtime, then downloaded the database.  It worked.  I then made a couple of changes to the program on my development computer necessitated by the wide screen display on the new computer, uploaded the changed program to the ftp site, proceeded to download the update to the win 8 computer and it won't update to the new version until and unless I reboot.  What am I doing wrong?  My users should not have to close everything and reboot before updating the program--I will surely soon have several using Win 8.

Hi,

According to your description, this problem has nothing to do with FTP site. You can try to install the update directly at local system to test if it could be updated successfully without system reboot.

On the other hand, what's the former system edition? Windows 7 or XP? Generally speaking when some componments or service which was running couldn't be stopped, the new update package would come into effect in the next time system start. Is there any installation log of your program?

I have updated the file in question on my development computer.  I then saved it to a network drive.  I then uploaded it to the ftp.  Next, I went back to the Win 8.1 machine.  I opened the ftp and copied the file.  I then pasted it to the desktop.  I then opened the file and verified that it was not updated.  I then accessed the network drive and copied the file, then pasted on the desktop.  Voila!  It was updated.  Conclusion: Cannot copy and paste from ftp (unless it had never been present) but can update from other source.

On the Win 8.1:  Next, I reopened the ftp, copied the file.  Returned to the desktop (which now contained the identical updated version copied from network drive).  Pasted.  Opened the file.  Alas, it had reverted to the version prior to copying from the network file.  I next deleted the file, then downloaded from ftp again.  The previous version reappeared! Conclusion:  Anytime an update is attempted from ftp, the version reverts to something it finds in a cache somewhere.  I did try rebooting at this point, but the previous version was still there.

After a reboot of the Win 8.1 machine, I could copy and paste successfully from ftp to desktop.  

You asked about the former system edition:  Windows 7 on my development computer.   I don't have an installation log, but I am not sure exactly to what you refer.  Office 2010 Professional is the source software; MS Access 2010 Runtime is the program used on the 8.1 computer.  Note that this all works on users using Win 7 and the same Runtime.