Damaged mdb file gives strange error message :-(

[JBrooks1982]

A damaged MDB file gives this message when i try to open it:
"The Microsoft jet database engine stopped the process because you and another user are attempting to change the same data at the same time."
The message is obviously wrong, no other user is attempting nothing.
I really want to repair this database as it contains customers data.
Please tell me if and how can i repair this file.

[zmbd]

This is common occurrence when someone just powers off their PC instead of properly closing the application, a network connection is dropped, OR if the user-rights have changed so that they no longer have "write" privilege.

1) Check that the user has the "write" privilege to folder.
- if not, then establish this if you have the authority to do so or have your IT-Sec-Officer do so.
- if this privilege is set true, then step 2 :-)

2) If the user does have this privilege then:
- shutdown all of your PC's that might have this database open.
- MAKE A COPY OF THE DIRECTORY HOLDING THE ACCESS DATABASE!
- In this copy, look for a file name [databasename].ldb, delete this file in the copied directory.
- Open the database from the copied directory. If it opens, make sure that all of the data appears correct.
- If and only IF, all goes well, rename the old directory to [directoryname]_old and rename your copied directory to match the original directory name.

If neither of these steps work, or even if they do, please post back and we'll see what else can be done. :)

[NeoPa]

JBrooks:
The message is obviously wrong, no other user is attempting nothing (sic).

This error message is reliably associated with the file being opened by more than one user or process at the same time. I'm afraid that you will need to confirm this by trying to rename the file when you believe all users have let go of the file. If the rename fails then you can be sure that another user or process has a current lock on the file. OTOH, if the file gets renamed you can be sure that it is free at that point and available for any work.

Please see ZMBD's informative post for more on the steps you should take and in which order.