Database has stalled - vague error messages

[amcg]

Have encountered a problem with an Access 97 database that has suddenly stopped working.

The tables all seem to be fine, but when I try to open a certain form I get the following error:

The Microsoft Jet database engine stopped the process because you and another user are attempting to change the same data at the same time.

I also received another error:

Unrecognized database format '[Name of Database].mdb'.

I realise that these are common error messages, but what do they really mean? No unusual operations have been performed on the database, it's just been purring along as per normal and then suddenly this morning it refused to work. Could it possibly be a problem with corrupt data?

Any advice from those who may have had similar problems would be greatly appreciated.

 

[demoman]

Hey Irish!

Sorry to hear of your plight. Kick all the users out, open the database, goto TOOLS>DATABASE>DATABASE UTILITIES>REPAIR DATABASE. If God is smiling on you, it will be repaired and life will go on. If not, I hope you have maintained a good back-up plan.

 

[amcg]

Thanks for the reply.

I have tried making a blank db and importing everything from the original db, however it refuses to import the offending form.

I trawled through the Microsoft Knowledge Base and eventually found a page entitled "How to Repair a Damaged Jet 3.5 Database (Q279334)". It appeared to cover the problems which I am experiencing. However, I tried decompiling the db, repairing the db, checking the ldb file, everything I could think of, but still no joy.

What exactly can happen to a form (or indeed maybe a control on a form?) that might cause it to become corrupt?

Might my only option be to try to build a new form from scratch? (Bear in mind that I did not design this db, so I do not know all of the features that might have been included in the original form...)