Microsoft Office Access: Repairing An Access Database

Introduction

Contents of this manual provide user instructions for repairing, protecting, and maintaining a Microsoft Office (MS) Access Database. Step-by-step instructions are provided for the user to follow along with the tutorial containing the key issues of tutorial, the method used to repair an MS Access database, and database maintenance and protection. This tutorial is intended for beginner database users.

Repairing Corrupt MS Access Database

Three separate steps are needed to repair the database. Each step will be indicated as a separate process (e.g. Backup database, Compact and Repair, Import tables).

Backup Corrupt Database

1. Click the Office button and choose Manage from the drop-down menu. 2. Choose Backup Database from Manage sub menu 3. Name and Save the backup. a. Indicate the saved backup file is a corrupt backup using this naming convention. b. File Name: database name_corruptbackup.mdb

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c. Save backup file. 4. Rename the corrupt database a. With the corrupt database open, click the Office button, and choose Save As. b. Save the corrupt file using the same naming convention used for naming and saving a corrupt backup file, excluding the word backup. c. File Name: database name_corrupt.mdb

d. Save corrupt file.

Compact and Repair

1. Click the Office button and choose Manage from the drop down menu. 2. Choose Compact and Repair Database from the Manage sub menu
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Note: The objects (e.g. tables, forms, reports) will flash inside of Navigation Pane on the left-hand side of the window indicating that the database has been compacted and repaired.

Import Tables Into A New Database

1. Close all open databases. 2. Choose Blank Database from MS Access homepage 3. Name the new database, located in the right pane under Blank Database. 4. Click Create.

5. Click the External Data tab 6. Inside of the Import category click Access. 7. Click the Browse button to locate the corrupt file

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8. Once the corrupt file is located, select the file and click the Open button. 9. Select the first choice with the heading Import tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules into the current database 10. Click the OK button located at the bottom right-hand corner 11. Inside Table select all the tables by clicking the Select All button located on the right side of the window

12. Click the OK button 13. Click the Close button

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References and Resources

Create An Access Database-Access-Microsoft Office. (2003). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from Microsoft Office: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access-help/create-an-access-databaseHP005187442.aspx Corrupt Access Database Repair Tools. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2010, from Data.Revive: http://www.datarevive.com/repair.htm Mason, L. (2002, April 03). Picking Up the Pieces: Recovering corrupt Access databases. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from TechRepublic: http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/510010878_11-1060846.html

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