Failed to connect project database -- cannot start my project

[Michael Howerton]

Hi everyone,

I am just getting started with ArcSWAT and am getting an error before I even begin. I click New Project in the ArcSWAT3 1.0.0 window and, after loading, get an error saying "ERROR: Failed to connect to project database C:\...\NewProject\NewProject.mdb: External component has thrown an exception.." (screenshot attached). Subsequently, the whole program crashes.

The project database file is in the specified location, has data, and I clicked "Unlock" in the file's properties. I've tried this with multiple new projects, opening up ones I'd just created, etc., and cannot get past this very first step. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Michael