[AccessD] Software to repair corrupt database

Joe Hecht joe at anamericanjoe.us
Tue Mar 18 22:22:45 CDT 2008


FMS makes a program that will let you compare 2 databases object by object.
I think it is the detective.

Joe Hecht
Joe at anamericanjoe.us
-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Tina Norris
Fields
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:53 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Software to repair corrupt database

Hi Joe,

When the problem first happened, I tried creating a fresh blank database 
and importing all the objects from the problem database.  That got me 
the error message that I couldn't proceed because some other user was 
using the database, or changing the data, or something similar.  There 
was no one else using the database and there was no lock file.  I tried 
taking a copy of the problem database to a different machine entirely 
(as in home to my office), and trying again to import all objects into 
the new database.  No joy. 

Depending on whether I was trying to open the problem database (1 & 2) 
or trying to import objects from the problem database into a fresh 
database (3), I got these error messages:
1) "<database file> isn't an index in this table.  Look in the indexes 
collection of the TableDef object to determine the valid index names"
2) "Operation invalid without a current index." and
3) "The Microsoft Jet database engine stopped the process because you 
and another user are attempting to change the same data at the same time."

I did send my corrupt file off to corruptfilerepair.com and get it back 
with all the tables and the relationships grid looking good.  I am now 
going through it to examine all the queries and forms to find flaws and 
fix them.  The first query I tried to run is the one that was running 
when the system crashed, and it didn't want to work for me.  That one I 
will recreate from scratch, because I believe it is the primary 
corruption culprit - aside from the hardware and operating systems 
issues in the client's office.

Thanks for the hint, I will check out FMSINC.com.

Regards,
Tina



Joe Hecht wrote:
> Hi Tina,
>
> I do nit know if FMSINC.com has anything but that might be worth a look
for
> long term.
>
> What happens if you import everything in the current problem mdb into a
new
> file? That has helped me once or twice.
>
> Joe Hecht
> Joe at anamericanjoe.us
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Tina Norris
> Fields
> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 6:29 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Software to repair corrupt database
>
> Hi Gustav,
>
> Oh yes, the right thing to do is to deal with the sources of 
> corruption!  And I will use the fine message you sent me to back up my 
> comments to these lovely people.  I have rescued them a few times, even 
> making minor adjustments to their database.  My friend Wayne Madison, 
> who developed it for them back in 1999 or 2000, tried unsuccessfully to 
> get the previous management to institute certain procedures.  I have 
> tried, also unsuccessfully, to get them to take serious responsibility 
> for protecting their database.  But, now, I think I have their 
> attention.  For some weeks, now, they have been unable to send out 
> acknowledgement letters to the people who make donations to them.  
> First, because they edited the mail-merge document and scrambled the 
> fields in the letter, and now, because of a system-crash corruption.
>
> I have bookmarked the Garry Robinson page.  Thank you for the link.
>
> Still, I would like to find a good utility for my own, or my clients', 
> next emergency.
>
> Thanks for your response,
> Tina
>
> Gustav Brock wrote:
>   
>> Hi Tina
>>
>> First, you could double-check with the service of Garry Robinson:
>>
>>   http://www.vb123.com/fixaccess/
>>
>> Then I would rather spend yours and the client's limited resources on
>>     
> dealing with the sources for corruption:
>   
>>   - split the database
>>   - arrange for a decent backup to a different or external drive
>>   - use Win98 for simple lookups and the like
>>   - perform mail merge on the most powerful machine
>>  
>> Should be quite easy to carry out ...
>>
>> The only tools I have used for repairing databases is JetComp and a hex
>>     
> editor.
>   
>> /gustav
>>
>>   
>>     
>>>>> tinanfields at torchlake.com 15-03-2008 12:52 >>>
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>> Hi All,
>>
>> A local organization has a nice database of donors, members, and similar 
>> stuff.  It was probably first crafted in A97.  I did not build it, but 
>> know the developer who did (he's a very talented guy who keeps 
>> disappearing).  The organization has the database on a small server with 
>> three or four computers having access to the database.  The database is 
>> not split into BE and FE, it is simply shared.  The computers used for 
>> accessing the database are of different operating systems, of course, 
>> ranging from Win98 to WinXP. 
>>
>> The Win98 machine was being used to run a mail merge acknowledgement 
>> letter in Word that is populated by a parameter select query in the 
>> database.  The Win98 machine choked and froze.  The database was 
>> unusable after that.  The message received whenever one tried to open it 
>> was "<database file> isn't an index in this table. Look in the indexes 
>> collection of the TableDef object to determine the valid index names."  
>> Clear case of corruption!
>>
>> I had been working to fix a wrecked mail-merge document, so was present 
>> when the system froze.  I asked about the most recent backup and was 
>> told that they had no idea how the backup was done, but their network 
>> guru said it was done automatically.  Great! say I, get the backup from 
>> Jim and we will go back to the mail-merge.  Well, they would have to 
>> call Jim. . . . A week later, I had heard nothing back from them so I 
>> called.  Well, Jim said the whole system is automatically backed up, but 
>> he can't just get the Access database out for them.  Jim and his group 
>> have been trying to repair the database, but they haven't succeeded. 
>>
>> Meanwhile, I've been out looking for software to repair corrupted Access 
>> databases, and I've found a couple that let me run a demo for free, but 
>> will cost about $300 USD to actually get the output file.  They are:  
>> Advanced Access Repair from Data Numen Inc. and AccessFIX from 
>> Cimaware.  They appear to work, although AccessFIX demo indicated that 
>> part of the structure couldn't be determined without a copy to compare 
>> to.  (That would not be awfully difficult, because whenever I visit this 
>> organization I make a backup copy of the database, so the dated copy I 
>> made in October of 2006 is still there.)  The $300 USD price-tag is a 
>> bit stiff.
>>
>> I found a repair service at corruptfilerepair.com.  I sent them the 
>> zipped corrupt database, and they have sent me an email with a 
>> screen-shot of the repaired database, showing the tables container and 
>> one of the tables open.  If I am satisfied, they will send me a payment 
>> link and I will pay them $39 USD and they will send back the repaired 
>> database.  This price seems reasonable, and I am willing to pay that 
>> much to get my friends back up and running.
>>
>> For the future, I would like to have in my own possession a decent 
>> utility for repairing corrupt databases.  What can you, my favorite team 
>> of real gurus, tell me about such software?
>>
>> Thanks for all help,
>> Tina
>>
>>
>>   
>>     
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