[ Access Repair Mdb Guide ]
Got a Corrupt Access database or unrecognized database format error?
Try these steps to help recover the corrupt database, and if you are still not successful simply submit the file to DataRevive for a FREE Recovery Report and quotation for repair (within three hours - 24HRS a day).
DataRevive offers a FREE Access Repair Recovery Report within 3HRS to indicate what data can be recovered, should these steps fail.
The following advice is sourced from Microsoft Support Knowledge Base articles and from our extensive experience repairing corrupt access databases.
Please note: Our professional service uses proprietary methods for extracting data from the corrupt file, and is generally much more effective.
(1) PLEASE BACKUP THE CORRUPT FILE BEFORE BLINKING!
This is very important! Before attempting any operations on the database (including the built-in 'Compact & Repair' utility) you should make a copy of the corrupt database. Evening attempting to open the database can contribute to further problems.
(i) Rename the backup file to indicate its a corrupt backup. E.g. if the file name was 'Customers.mdb' rename this to 'Customers_CorruptBackup.mdb'.
(i) Rename the corrupt mdb file to indicate its a corrupt version. E.g. if the file name was 'Customers.mdb' rename this to 'Customers_Corrupt.mdb'
You can backup the mdb file by simply copying the file to another folder, or copy the file to backup media such as a tape drive, zip disk or writable CD-ROM.
(2) CONSIDER RESTORING FROM A RECENT BACKUP
Backing up your files regularly will help when crisis strikes, and this certainly applies to high risk critical data often stored in databases. Of course, you may have a problem with your backup due to incorrect configuration or faulty media.
How to check how old your backup file is
(i) Check the 'Date Modified' stamp of the backup file to determine when it was last accessed. In Microsoft Explorer or My Computer, right click on the mdb file and choose 'properties'. You should see a 'Modified' date which is the last time this file was modified (data changed). This will indicate how old the backup is.
Consider cleaning the backup file by creating a new database and importing your old tables into it. See Step 4 below for explicit instructions.
(3) RUN THE BUILT-IN 'REPAIR & COMPACT' UTILITY
To repair the current mdb database : On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and then click Repair Database.
To repair a database that isn't open in Microsoft Access
(i) Close the current database.
(ii) On the Tools menu, point to Database Utilities, and then click Repair Database.
(iii) Specify the name and location of the database you want to repair, and click Repair.
(iv) Complete Step 4 to create a clean database from the recovered file.
(4) ATTEMPT TO IMPORT TABLES INTO NEW DATABASE
Access databases can retain corruption even after successfully running the built-in 'Compact and Repair' Feature. Therefore, it is important to completely rebuild a new access database every time corruption occurs.
How to Create a clean database
(i) Create a new blank, empty database in Microsoft Access.
(ii) When Microsoft Access first starts up, a dialog box is automatically displayed with options to create a new database or open an existing one. If this dialog box is displayed, click Blank Database, and then click OK.
If you have already opened a database or closed the dialog box that displays when Microsoft Access starts up, click New Database on the toolbar, and then double-click the Blank Database icon on the General tab.
Specify a name and location for the database and click Create.
(iii) Import all tables from the corrupt mdb file (or backup) file into this database.
(6) DOWNLOAD AND RUN THE LATEST JETCOMP.EXE UTILITY
Please note: Although JetComp may help you recover some data, we are often more successful in recovering data. Therefore, if you are not satisfied with the results then don't hesitate to Submit your corrupt mdb database to us for a FREE Recovery Report.
What it the JetComp Repair Utility?
The Jet compact utility, JETCOMP.exe, is a stand-alone utility that compacts databases created with Microsoft Jet database engine 3.x and 4.x. This utility may be run in conjunction with Microsoft Jet database engine 3.x and 4.x for recovering corrupted databases. Although you can run the Microsoft Access Repair Compact utility or the CompactDatabase method with Microsoft Jet database engine 3.x and 4.x, Jetcomp.exe may be able to recover some databases that these utilities cannot.
The reason for this is that the Microsoft Access Compact utility and the CompactDatabase method attempt to open and close a database before attempting to compact it.
In certain cases where these utilities may not be able to reopen the database, Compact will be unable to proceed, preventing recovery of the database. JETCOMP.exe does not attempt to open and close the database before compacting, and may therefore be able to recover some databases that the Microsoft Access compact utility and the CompactDatabase method cannot.
How to obtain the latest JetComp utility from Microsoft download center
The JetComp Utility can be downloaded directly from Microsoft Support by following the link contained the following knowledge base article:
