salvage a corupt access file

S

Southern at Heart

I did a complete recovery on my laptop, and saved my data on a WD external
USB harddrive. Now when I copy the data back onto my laptop, I find many
files are corrupt! I have a couple access databases that I really need to
code from. The database tables are important, but the modules that contain
all the code are very important... Is there any hope of getting this info
out of there? I tried compacting the files but get the same error:
'unrecognized data format'
I've installed MS OFFICE PRO, just like I had it before...
please help!
thanks.
 
E

Ed Metcalfe

Southern at Heart said:
I did a complete recovery on my laptop, and saved my data on a WD external
USB harddrive. Now when I copy the data back onto my laptop, I find many
files are corrupt! I have a couple access databases that I really need to
code from. The database tables are important, but the modules that
contain
all the code are very important... Is there any hope of getting this info
out of there? I tried compacting the files but get the same error:
'unrecognized data format'
I've installed MS OFFICE PRO, just like I had it before...
please help!
thanks.
Click to expand...

A couple of other things to try:

1. Create a new, blank MDB file and try to import all objects from your
corrupt database.
2. Try JetComp on a *copy* of the database
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273956)
3. Try decompiling a copy of the database
(http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/decompile.htm)

Ed Metcalfe.
 
J

John W. Vinson

I did a complete recovery on my laptop, and saved my data on a WD external
USB harddrive. Now when I copy the data back onto my laptop, I find many
files are corrupt! I have a couple access databases that I really need to
code from. The database tables are important, but the modules that contain
all the code are very important... Is there any hope of getting this info
out of there? I tried compacting the files but get the same error:
'unrecognized data format'
I've installed MS OFFICE PRO, just like I had it before...
please help!
thanks.
Click to expand...

You may need a professional database salvage service. See the references at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm. And good luck... I sure hope
you kept the restored backup safe prior to compacting it, as the compaction
process may do more harm than good if the database is sufficiently damaged.

John W. Vinson [MVP]
 
L

Linq Adams via AccessMonster.com

I agree with John's advice, and anyone reading this should be aware that this
isn't just an isolated case of an Access file becoming corrupted. If you put
***USB*** and ***Corruption*** into a search engine you'll get pages and
pages of hits on the problem! And it's not just Access files; reports
indicate corruption of all kinds of files, after transfer to/from USB flash
drives/external hard drives.
 
S

Southern at Heart

If anyone would be willing to try anything to help this file, I'd be
delighted! I have the tables in it other places, but the hours of code in
the modules is close to irreplacable.
I could email it to anyone who could try to fix it. It's 2.5 meg... I tried
the Jetcomp, it just said it couldn't work on this file. The readme said It
had to be Access 2000, but I have 2003 if that matters. (But I think my
databases usually save as 200 format). Not sure I understand that otehr
link someone posted, but I'll look at it some more.
oh me...
 
T

Tom Lake

Southern at Heart said:
If anyone would be willing to try anything to help this file, I'd be
delighted! I have the tables in it other places, but the hours of code in
the modules is close to irreplacable.
Click to expand...

I'm willing to give it a try.

Tom Lake
 
S

Southern at Heart

I just remember there is one table in this database with important personal
info in it... I'll have to see if I can find something else to repair it or
something.
 
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