For smaller utilities, you can copy 6 core DLLs into your EXE folder:
Warning: This violates Borland's EULA for the redistributable, but is common for internal tools. You must also manually write registry keys for HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Borland\Database Engine\DLLPATH pointing to your EXE directory. BDE Installer For RAD Studio- Delphi- C Builder 10.2 Tokyo
| Issue | Solution |
| :--- | :--- |
| "The BDE version is incompatible" | Uninstall all previous BDE versions via Control Panel, reboot, then run the Tokyo-specific installer. |
| BDE components are grayed out on the palette | Your project is targeting 64-bit. Switch to 32-bit Windows in Project > Options > Target Platform. |
| "An error occurred while attempting to initialize the Borland Database Engine" | Run the BDE Administrator once as Admin to recreate the registry keys. | For smaller utilities, you can copy 6 core
Given these limitations, developers should consider the BDE installer as a temporary or transitional tool. Long-term strategies include: Where BDE is absolutely necessary, best practices include
Where BDE is absolutely necessary, best practices include keeping all BDE code in separate data modules, avoiding BDE in new forms, and running legacy applications on virtualized older Windows environments where possible.