An MDE is not the same as an EXE. MDE files still require that Access be
installed on the workstation.
There's no way to turn a DB into an executable. Assuming that you want to
allow people who do not have Access installed to use your application, you
have 3 main options:
1) Rewrite your application in a language that can be compiled into an
executable such as VB or VC++ (note that your data will still have to be
kept in an external MDB file)
2) Rewrite your application as a web app
3) Get the Access Developer edition that's appropriate for whatever version
of Access you're using (see
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/developereditionversions.htm for details of
what you need to look for) What this allows you to do is package your
application together with a royalty-free run-time version of Access. Users
who don't have Access installed will be able to install the run-time and use
your application. They will not be able to use the runtime to make design
changes to your application (nor to any other MDB)