Unrecognized Database format - Corrupt Database

[Crookshanks]

Goodmorning,

I was working with a Access2003 database on a laptop. The database might have been open at the moment the battery was empty and the application might have been closed immediately. Any way, it was quit while the database was probably open.

When I reopen the database the systems prompts with the question whether it should try to repair the database. Of course, I choose 'Yes' and after that the system prompts that the databaseformat cannot be recognized and that the repair has failed....

Q: Does anybody had this problem before?
Q: Is there anyway to retrieve the data?

Any help appreciated.
Kind regards,

 

[KenReay]

Hi

One thing to try:

Create a new new blank database

Use File \ Import to import ALL of the objects from your corrupt database into the new one

Often works

Regards

Ken Reay
Freelance Solutions Developer
Boldon Information Systems Ltd
Website needs upgrading, but for now -

http://www.kenneth.reay.btinternet.co.uk

UK

 

[JerryKlmns]

What a nice feeling, isn't it?

Ok. Make a copy of the mdb file. There is a utility from MS to do that

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273956.

Or, try to import one object at the time to a fresh new mdb.

 

[Crookshanks]

Thanks guys for the quick answers. Really appreciated. Unfortunately it does not work. I think the problem is somewhat bigger.

- When I try to import the objects in a blank database the system also tries to repair the database (without any success).
- When I try to use the tool JerryKlmns recommended the program generates a compact error. So no luck here either.

 

[Remou]

It may be possible to get the data out with ADO, which does not use Access, just the Jet Engine.

 

[Crookshanks]

Remou,

I am not familiar with ADO, so that would be kind of hard . Furthermore I am a bit sceptical as I wonder why the jet engine can recognize the file as a database and Access can not. But oke, as I said, I am not familiar with ADO. Thanks anyway.

 

[Remou]

I have managed to get the data out of an Access Database with ADO when it was not possible to recover the database, but there is no guarantee. It is not difficult to create a few lines of SQL and to run them using, say, VBScript. It depends on how important the data is for you. There are also data recovery services, if you do not wish to go to this trouble.

 

[Crookshanks]

Remou,
Not so important. I already started re-entrying the data and am half way finished. I had a backup of a few days ago. But I wanted to know how to fix these kind of problems. Thanks again.

 

[danvlas]

Have you tried /decompile?

Start-Run-cmd
msaccess.exe /decompile c:\path\yourDb.mdb

If you have more Access versions, you will need the full path to msaccess.exe


HTH


Daniel Vlas
Systems Consultant

http://www.geocities.com/danvlas/AutoMail.html

 

[Crookshanks]

danvlas,
I tried your solution: msaccess.exe /decompile c:\path\yourDb.mdb
But I still get the message that it is not recognized as a database. Thank for the tip.

 

[danvlas]

Well, sorry, it's all that I can say.
Good luck with data entry.

Probably time to shorten the backup interval. And split the application, if you haven't yet done so...




Daniel Vlas
Systems Consultant

http://www.geocities.com/danvlas/AutoMail.html

 

[Remou]

Here is a useful site for future reference:

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm