Installing Access 97 After Install of Access XP

[sdkfz]

I have to install Access 97 on my pc, I have the full version of Office 97 Pro and the upgrade Office XP Pro CD's. (Both perfectly legal store bought)

I tried to install Office 97 to a separate directory from it's preferred one and while Word and Excel would load, Access came up with a "no license on this machine" message. This install also stepped onto the XP version even though I put it somewhere else.

I had just fought with getting vpn to work (it now does) and so did not want to mess any more with the machine without consulting everyone here.

Is the issue that the XP is an upgrade or is the issue that I need to uninstall XP and then install the older version and then the newer? (in separate directories or even partitions.?)

or..........

As always thank you all in advance, the back ground to this is I quit my job here in Boston to move to Minneapolis area, they refused to accept my resignation and instead I will be working from home in MN, I needed the VPN of course to connect and I need both versions of Acces to deal with databases in both versions.