I have a corrupted mdb file with error message "Unrecognized database format". Anybody knows how to solve this

Question

I have a corrupted mdb file with error message "Unrecognized database format". Anybody knows how to solve this

Answer 1

Access97 has a utility called "Repair Database" (Tools menu>>Database Utilities>>Repair Database). In later versions it became "Compact and Repair Database". Either way, if you have Access you should have it. I'd make a copy of the original then try to use the utility on it.



good luck

Answer 2

It would be better to reinstall your Microsoft Access again. My experience is that if your mdb application running is 1997 or below and you installed a Access 2000 the error message would be "Unrecognized database format". You need to install a Service Pack for that or revert back to Access 1997.

Answer 3

The first thing I would do is to erase any .ldb files on your computer. These are log files that indicate to Access whether anyone has a database open and remain if Access crashes.

As you can't open the database directly, I would then create a new database and try to import objects from the dodgy one.

File | Get External data, lets you import tables, queries, forms...



If you still have no success, try using the option to link to the tables in the old database in Get External Data. Then run a simple query to copy the data to new tables (make table queries).

Answer 4

Sounds like you're trying to open a .mdb file created with a new(er) version of Access in an old(er) version. (I'm assuming here, that you know it wasn't created in the version you're using now). Try opening in the newest version of Access you can find. From Access 2002 (XP) onward, you can save in an older format.

Answer 5

Delete the database, and create a new one.

no more "Unrecognized database format"