Repair Access Database Files (MDB & ACCDB) Manually

The database is a quite popular file format that collects and stores data in an organized way. A database file is a collection of tables, schemas, queries, reports, views, and other objects. MS Access is a popular database management system (DBMS) contains a relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with some software development tools and a graphical user interface. It creates a database file in MDB/ACCDB format (as per your MS Access version). Since no computer file is immune to corruption, an Access database can become corrupt due to various reasons. Corruption can cause inaccessibility in your Access database, and sometimes even permanent data loss. In the event of Access database corruption, there are two things you can try: either you can try to repair Access database file and fix its corruption manually, or you can use a professional recovery tool to recover Access database files’ data.

We’ll discuss Access database corruption and how to repair Access database in more detail later. First, I would like you to know more about Microsoft Access program and its useful features.

Microsoft Access 

Microsoft Access is a database application included in a well-known Office suite, called Microsoft Office. Also, it’s sold separately. Microsoft Access is used as an information management tool to store information for reference, reporting, and analysis. Via this database program, users can analyze a large amount of information, and manage related data more efficiently than any other spreadsheet application like MS Excel. Access program uses its own format based on the Access Jet Database Engine to store data.

Benefits of MS Access program 

The primary function of MS Access program is to store related information together and let users create connections (commonly known as relationships) between different things. Also, it can be used by software developers, data architect, and power users to develop application software. Below are the four top benefits you get if you use MS Access program:

• Fewer errors and inconsistencies;
• Higher productivity;
• Security and control; and
• Better decision and insight

Access Database Corruption 

Where it has vast benefits, on the other hand, it has one major drawback. Like any other database file, an Access database is also prone to corruption and other severe issues. Corruption is very harmful to Access users. It can cause file inaccessibility and permanent data loss. There are many reasons behind Access database corruption. I’ve listed few most common below:

#1 – Virus Attacks

There’s almost no computer file immune to virus attacks. It’s one of the most common reasons behind corruption in your computer system. It not only infects the files but also causes great damage to your computer. A computer virus is a malware (malicious software) that can easily edit, remove, or modify some part of the file. Such an inappropriate action can cause corruption in your files.

#2 – Software Malfunction

The software malfunction refers to software failure or crash which is mainly caused by the internal bugs. If the MS Access program fails or crashes due to the internal bugs, this will put the database files at high risk of corruption. Software malfunction also occurs when the software applications collide with one another. This happens if you’re using the software applications downloaded from the untrusted sources.

#3 – Hard Disk Failure

Since hard disk is the most important part of your computer system, any sort of problem in it can lead to serious troubles. If the system hard disk fails or crashes due to any logical or physical failure, you may face corruption and lose all your data as a result. If your database files are stored in the bad sectors of a hard disk, your crucial data is at high risk. You can lose your database files and never get them back.

#4 – Sudden Power Failure

Whenever you turn off your computer system abruptly or it goes shutdown due to sudden power failure/outage, it causes serious damage to the files as well as the computer system. If you’re working on a database, and suddenly your system turns off due to power failure, it may cause corruption in that database file. The next time you’ll open the file, you’ll find it inaccessible due to corruption. To avoid sudden power failure, you should use UPS device.

#5 – Human Error

The last but not the least one, human error. It includes every mistakes or errors done by human, such as: deleting system files, installing software applications downloaded from untrusted sources, adding invalid content to the database file, forcefully cancellation of MS Access program, using Hex 010 editor to edit the Access database without having any prior knowledge, etc.

Aforementioned are the top most reasons for Access database corruption. Now the question is, how to fix Access database corruption. There are two things you can try here: either you can try to repair Access database file, or you can try to recover data from corrupt Access database file.

Repair Access database Manually

First, you should try some easy manual tricks to fix Access database corruption before you can purchase any paid software. And you can start this by using Compact and Repair utility.

“Compact and Repair” Utility to Repair Access Database 

Step 1: Open Microsoft Access on your system. But don’t open the corrupt database.

Step 2: On the task bar, click the Database Tools tab. Then now click Compact and Repair Database in Tools section.

Step 4: On Database to Compact From dialog box, browse the corrupt database file and select it. Then click Compact button.

Step 5: On Compact Database Info dialog box, create a new database. Give it a name and click Save to save this new database file.

Important note: Make sure nobody is using the database on which you’re trying the Compact and Repair feature. Also, take backup of your database before using any manual trick to repair Access database.

Import Corrupt Database into New One

If the Compact and Repair feature doesn’t work for you, then you should try another feature of MS Access tool. It has a built-in Import feature that can help you import corrupt database into a new one. Below are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Access on your system, and look at the right-hand side pane. You need to create a new database file. Give a file name, select a location, and click Create.

Step 2: A new database file will be created into which you can now import the corrupt database. On the task bar, click External Data tab.

Step 3: Now click Access to import Access database.

Step 4: On Get External Data – Access Database window, click Browse to select the file from which you want to import data. Also, specify how and where you want to store the data in the current database. Then click OK to continue the process.

Step 5: On the Import Objects window, select the objects (tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules) you want to import. Now click OK to start the process.

Step 6: Within a couple of minutes, the process will be successfully completed. Now click Close.

There’s one more thing you can try here, JetComp.exe aka Jet Compact utility. It’s a freeware tool provided by Microsoft to fix corrupt Access database. If you can’t fix Access database corruption by using the tips & tricks shared above, you should try a professional recovery solution.

Access Database Recovery – Professional Solution

Download Now

If you can’t repair Access database manually, you must look forward to a professional solution. Access Database Recovery software is one of the best database recovery solutions available in the market for Microsoft Access users. It can repair Access database files (MDB & ACCDB) created by any version of MS Access program including the latest 2016. Via this software, you can successfully restore Access database objects like tables, queries, indexes, relations, etc. from corrupt Access database files. Also, it supports smart recovery OLE, MEMO & BLOB data. Software is smartly programmed to handle header corruption and data misalignment issues. Aryson Technologies provides demo version of this software for free evaluation. With demo version, you can see a preview of your data which you can actually recover from the corrupt database. If you’re satisfied with the results, you can place your order for the licensed version to enable the saving feature.

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