unrecognised database format

[plantphoto]

hi,
i recently lost all my access 2000 databases after deleting and reformatting my drive !
the files have been recovered but when i try to open them i get a message unrecognised database format ?
any ideas what i can try to recover these.I have tried a demo access recovery programme but these say i have nothing to recover.

regards,

simon

 

[thornmastr]

Simon,


Usually you get this message when you attempt to open a higher version of Access; like an A2K database with A97 or A2k2 with A2K.

Is it possibly you are using A2k and your access format is A2k2 which will prompt this error message.

To compound the problem, you can also get this message when you have a corrupted database as well.

I’ve dealt with both aspects of this nasty little mosquito. It is by far much easier to make sure the problem is not a version conflict. You might want to check that first. If you do not have a version problem, treat your database as corrupted.
Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[plantphoto]

robert,
no it's definetly corrupted.i have 6 databases and all except 1 are unrecoverable so im told by companies who specialise is this type of work.
not sure if i should try and do another restore of the files from the original hard drive ?

simon

 

[thornmastr]

Simon,

I would say you are faced with a corruption issue. There arte a number of methodologies you can try, and usually, one of them will get rid of the corruption.

First, of course, is the MS repair and compact capability. It’s usually worthless but occasionally it works very nicely.

Secondly, try the JETCOMP.exe from MS. I have had very good luck with JETCOMP.

A bit more risky is the undocumented decompile switch.

And the ultimate kick is simply to copy every object in the corrupted database and then pasting it into a new pristine database. This usually becomes the ultimate solution. If this fails, you need to determine how critical is the application and how far back into your history saves must you go to get a viable restored database.

In the advent the database is critical and you have no viable backup, consider contacting Peter Miller who is an expert at breaking corruption and if he has to charge you, the cost is reasonable.
Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[plantphoto]

thanks,
ms repair will not do anything,how do i do the JETCOMP.exe you mentioned and how can i contact Peter Miller ?

simon

 

[thornmastr]

Simon,

See MSKB article Q273956 for information specifict to JETCOMP and the location where you can download it.

Peter Miller owns PKSolutions. The web address is

http://www.PKSolutions.com

His email address is info@pksolutions.com. If you wish, you can reach the company by calling 1-800-987-7716.

If you do contact him, please give him my regards. Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[plantphoto]

many thanks for all your help

simon