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More documentation and announcements can be found on the UTS Website at www.oakland.edu/uts

Topic: Help Documentation

Audience: Staff

Date: May 1, 2003

How to Repair a Corrupted Access Database

Occasionally, a Microsoft Access database might encounter corruption. This could happen if there are any interruptions to Access while it is working on the database. While database recovery is sometimes impossible, there are some steps you can take to try and recover your data.

Step 1:

This process uses the repair feature in Microsoft Access.

  • Start Microsoft Access
  • Click Cancel on the Dialog Box that appears. You should have a blank Access window.
  • Click on the Tools menu, select Database Utilities, and select Compact and Repair Database….
    • attachment:Database.jpg
  • A Database to Compact From dialog box should appear. Locate your corrupt database and click on the Compact button to continue.
  • A Contact Database Into dialog box should appear. Type in a new name for your database and click Save to continue.
    • attachment:Save.jpg
  • The database should attempt to repair itself. When it is done, click on the File menu, select Open, and open up the database that was just created.
    • attachment:Compact.jpg
  • If you are still experiencing problems opening up the database, please proceed to Step 2 below. Otherwise, you are finished.

Step 2:

This process attempts to create a new file, and import the data from the corrupted database.

  • Start Microsoft Access.
  • Select Blank Access Database and click OK.
  • Give a name to your new database and choose a file location, and click Create.
  • Click on the File menu, go to Get External Data, and select Import.
  • Locate and select your corrupted database, and click Import.
  • If you DO NOT receive an Import Objects window, than this process cannot recover your Access database. Otherwise, continue.
  • Click on the Tables tab at the top of the Import Objects window, and click Select All. Repeat for the other 6 tabs in the window, and click the OK button when done.
    • attachment:Import.jpg
  • If the tables were linked to Banner, you will need to enter your Banner password.
  • When complete, the data from the corrupt database should now be in the file that was just created.

For further help, please email [email protected] or call (248)370-4357.