Linked Server Error : Msg 7399, Level 16, State 1

In this post I'll show you a simple solution to a very common error you get while running a query against a linked Server.
You create a Linked Server with Flat Files, Excel or DBF in SQL Server using Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 and when you try run a query against it you get the error
--Error--
OLE DB provider "Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0" for linked server " " returned message "Cannot start your application. The workgroup information file is missing or opened exclusively by another user.".
Msg 7399, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
The OLE DB provider "Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0" for linked server "" reported an error. Authentication failed.
Msg 7303, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider "Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0" for linked server "".

Well whatever study I have done on this particular error, I have observed that you will get this error only when try to query from a remote machine. And this is something to do with the Security Context of the Linked Server.

Solution to this problem is very simple. Simply follow steps -
1.Open the Management Studio and navigate to Server Objects and then to Linked Server.
2.Right click on your Linked Server Name, and click on Properties.
3.Go to Security Page. Now for solving above problem you have 2 option, you can try any of the below 2 option.

A] Select the option “Be made without using a security context” by clicking on radio button.

OR

B] Select the last option “Be made using this security context ”.
As soon as click on the radio button before “Be made using this security context ”, the“Remote login” and “With password” text boxes become active to be filled in.
Now in the “Remote login”, enter Admin as the login user. Leave the password text box as blank.
Now just click on OK, and now can run the query against your linked server without any error.

- Mangal Pardeshi.