Access Database Problem: "unrecognized database format"

[Hepburn08]

Hi, I need some help opening a corrupt Microsoft Access database file. I get an error message that says "unrecogniz ed database format". Since I can't open it, I can't export the data to another new database. I thought some of you gurus might have some help (yes, I have a backup but it was from a couple of months ago and I updated it since.)
Thanks

[sierra7]

Hi,
The only time I have seen this message is when trying to open a recent version of a database (e.g. 2003) on a computer that last ran an older version of Access ('97), when both 2003 and '97 are installed.

If this might have been the case, you need to start Access 2000, or whatever, from the Start > Programs route, and then navigate to the database from the File > Open File menu options, rather than just clicking on the mdb file.

If it is not as simple as this, the next attack is to create a new empty database and try importing the objects (which Access seems to do without opening the donor database). From the File menu of the new database do File > Get External Data > Import, then navigate to you 'corrupt' database.

If you can't see the objects in the 'corrupt' database then I think you are into third party recovery tools, but the guys here may have some better suggestions.

Good luck

S7

[jyoung2]

did you decompile then try a compact and repair?
run the decompile from your run on the start menu. Make suere the path is correct
Then do the Compact and repair from the tools->database utilities


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11 \MSACCESS.EXE" /decompile

Hi, I need some help opening a corrupt Microsoft Access database file. I get an error message that says "unrecogniz ed database format". Since I can't open it, I can't export the data to another new database. I thought some of you gurus might have some help (yes, I have a backup but it was from a couple of months ago and I updated it since.)
Thanks

[sierra7]

did you decompile then try a compact and repair?
run the decompile from your run on the start menu. Make suere the path is correct
Then do the Compact and repair from the tools->database utilities


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11 \MSACCESS.EXE" /decompile

You will need to include a reference to the corrupt database file too . .
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11 \MSACCESS.EXE" "C:\Path\Corrup tDatabase.mdb" /decompile

S7

[Megalog]

Also, the "unrecogniz ed database format" error comes up when you're running a 2007 database that's been saved on a machine with 2007 SP1. Any database that has design changes with SP1, needs a SP1 client to run properly afterwards.