How to Recover an Access File

You can recover an Access file.

Microsoft Access is a database that allows you to create and manage data. Access database files have an .mdb file extension. An .mdb file may become corrupt for several reasons. One reason is that Access was interrupted while writing information to the .mdb file. A second possible reason for corruption is a networking hardware outage. A final cause is if you attempt to open and save the .mdb file in another program. If your .mdb file becomes corrupt, you might be able to recover the Access file.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

Recovering an .mdb File

1. Close the corrupt Access database file.

2. Create a backup copy of the damaged .mdb file by saving the file with a different name. For example, if the name of the damaged file is work.mdb, save the file as work_backup.mdb.

3. Delete the .ldb file that has the same name as your Access file, if it exists. The .ldb file records the users that have the database open and should be removed when the database file is closed.

4. Run the Compact and Repair utility to repair the file. A message will be displayed if the repair is unsuccessful.

5. Create a new database and import the objects into the database if the Access file was not repaired. The relationships that exist in the old database must be recreated.

Recovering the File if a Table is Damaged

1. Export the table to a delimited text file from Access. If any relationships are associated with the table, delete them then delete the table from the database.

2. Compact the database by running the Compact and Repair utility, then create a new table and any relationships that previously existed.

3. Use a word processor, such as Notepad, to open the file. Look at the text in the file and try to find symbols or unrecognizable data. Delete any unknown data or symbols that you find, then save the text file.

4. Import the text file into the newly created table.

5. Retype the records if any table records were deleted.

Recovering the File if a Form, Report, Macro or Module is Damaged

1. Delete the damaged form, report, macro or module from Access.

2. Create a new Access database.

3. Use the backup copy you made to import the object back into the new database.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot repair the database with these steps, the database is probably damaged beyond repair. If this is the case, you should restore your last backup database or recreate the database. If you don't have a backup, you'll need to contact a consultant who specializes in Microsoft Access database repair services.

References

• Microsoft Support: How to troubleshoot and to repair a damaged Access 2002 or later database