Microsoft ACE.oledb.16 is not registered, but it is

Question

I have searched high and low for this situation... and it's annoying me.

I am coding in VB.net 2019 and am trying to import an Excel spreadsheet. I ran the code on Monday and it worked great! I run the code on Tuesday... and it fails.

The ACE OLEDB v.16 is installed and it worked, but now the app is claiming it's not registered.

I had the same thing happen to me when trying to do a bulk insert on SQL Server (2019). It ran once on Friday, and on Monday, no love.

That's #1... #2...

Remember how it worked on Monday, first thing yesterday, I tried to install it on my production server to test it. The server does not have Excel or Office installed, due to the obvious licensing costs and the lack of available disc space... I administer the server, don't maintain the hardware, so there is no control there.

However, I installed the ACE driver, 32 bit, and it runs... until it could not find an installable ISAM. Don't tell me to install the access driver, it's there... so what is this ISAM thing about?

I am getting worried that my site security is so dang blasted smart that it saw my actions and blocked them. sigh.

Any insights will be appreciated.