How to resolve 'database needs to be repaired' error in Access

Using Microsoft Access in a multi-user environment can be a tricky and jolting task. A developer needs to take care of various issues which might crop up if users try to modify the same data or quit unexpectedly. All these and similar activities can pave way for major issues including corruption and data inaccessibility. If an Access database shows symptoms of corruption, then it is required of you to use Compact and Repair utility to fix errors. If this utility fails to rectify the error-laden Access database file and you are struggling to access the vital information stored in an Access database, then you must switch to a clean and updated backup copy. In absence of a usable backup, you have an option to successfully repair corrupt or damaged Access database by using a reliable Access repair software.

Let's consider a scenario, wherein, you have shared an important Access database file over a network. On one instance, when you attempt to open it to extract some information, you might get stunned to receive the following error message:

The database 'filename.mdb' needs to be repaired or isn't a database file.

You or another user may have unexpectedly quit Microsoft Office Access while a Microsoft Office Access database was open.

Do you want Microsoft Office Access to attempt to repair the database?

If you click Yes to allow Access to repair the database, you might stumble upon another issue.

When Access tries to repair the affected database, you may encounter yet another error message (given below), which is a clear indication that the repair process did not succeed in eliminating the errors.

"Unrecognized database format 'filename.mdb'"


Cause
The above errors suggest that the Access Jet engine could read the basic information related to the structure of the affected database, but found some sort of corruption either in the table's data or definitions. The second message was displayed as Access could not repair the table definitions.

The corruption could creep in if users do not follow correct practice to quit or close Microsoft Access application.

Resolution
Since MS Access could not perform Access database repair task, it becomes imperative to download and use a third-party software.

Access repair 2010 software are professional and easy-to-use solutions which assist you in repairing corrupt or damaged Access databases without being dependent on a technician.

Troubleshooting database corruption in MS Access 2000 database

MS Access is used by millions of users over the world primarily because of its availability with the MS Office suite. Apart from this, it is also very simple to use and also not discounting the fact that it has got online support as well as forums to provide any kind of help. But still there are certain trivial issues like database corruption due to which it becomes difficult to work at. In these situations, there appears a serious need of using an MDB file repair software if the usual methods to repair MDB file do not work.

Taking an instance into consideration in which you are trying to open an Access 2000 MDB file but fail to do so. An error message is displayed in this regard, which is:

“The database 'filename.mdb' needs to be repaired or isn't a database file.
You or another user may have unexpectedly quit Microsoft Office Access while a Microsoft Office Access database was open.
Do you want Microsoft Office Access to attempt to repair the database?”
If you click on 'Yes' to repair the MDB file, then you would receive the following error message:
“Unrecognized database format 'filename.mdb'”
In the end, you click the 'OK' button to close the dialog box and the following informational message is displayed:
“The database 'filename.mdb' can't be repaired or isn't a Microsoft Office Access database file.”

Cause:
The root cause of this error is that the MDB file is damaged, which is why you are unable to access it. In this case, the MS Access Jet engine can identify the structures and definitions of the database. However, either the table data or table definitions are damaged.

Resolution:
To repair the MDB file, you should use the 'Compact and Repair' feature in MS Access. This feature is used to repair the errors in the MDB file by compacting the database. Try to access the database after using this utility. It should be open perfectly.

To overcome this tricky situation, I would recommend to use a professional MDB repair software to repair MDB file. These Access repair tools, having rich user interface, that use extremely safe but powerful scanning algorithms to repair MDB file.

MS Access 2000 Database Corruption and Ways to Handle It

Did you just encounter Access 2000 database corruption owing to power loss? Poor you! It is such a heart-wrenching situation, when you find that your Access database has become damaged due to a mere power off. And to think that you had updated so many things in it since morning, today! Your data backup was not even scheduled till today evening! All you have is the backup created yesterday! No? Then? Now that you have faced this problem, what next? Start all over again? Well, not really!! There are ways that can be employed by any Access database user to repair Access file, and extract all the data that he had so painstakingly collected.

Let us go through these Access database repair methods to solve the problem. But before you begin, you must ensure that you have the most recent MS Jet service pack.

First, copy the damaged mdb file. This should act as a backup. Then, ensure that the mdb file is closed, before you delete any .ldb file that might be present. After this you need to select the Compact and repair utility present in the Database utilities in Tools menu. Choose the damaged file, and enter a new name for the compacted file (you may change it back to the original name after repair) in the dialog box, before clicking 'Save'.

Another way is to create a new empty database, and import into it all the objects (except data Access page) one after the other, from the old database. To import these pages, choose Pages, from Options, and then the New button. In the dialog box that opens, choose Existing Web page, and then OK. This needs to be followed by recreation of relationships.

In case, the above steps do not help resolve your problem, then before you plan to look at backup, and start doing the same work you have been doing since morning, you should use a third-party Access database repair tool to repair access file and recover all your data.