Corrupted databases

[Ian Logan]

Hi

I installed Windows XP on my second partition and as a result it has
corrupted various Access 2, 97 and 2000 databases. It also trashed Outlook
and some Word docs!

I tried re-installing Office 97 but that did not fix it nor did trying the
Repair nor the downloadable Jetcomp.exe. I still have error 3343
"unrecognised database format". What is also strange is that although some
of the faulty files have a last modified date of the Win XP installation,
some others have dates from months ago but are still corrupted. The original
partition was Win 98.

I am wondering if the databases have been modified to Access 2003, and hence
are not recognised by earlier versions?

Any help would be appreciated.

Kind Regards
Ian Logan

 

[DL]

You make no mention of installing Access 2003/Office 2003 thus how could the
db format be changed to it?
Were you trying to achieve a dual boot sys or what?

 

[Ian Logan]

DL

I am using a floppy disk (with AEFDISK) to change the active partition and
then boot off that partition. There are no Office 2003 components installed
at all, it was just a vague idea that the format could have been changed.
However I have just read in recent posts that Access 2003 actually uses the
2000 format so that idea has just bombed out.

Note that I tried to open one of the Access 97 databases on another
system and neither Access 97 nor 2000 would repair it.

Ian L

 

[DL]

I assume you've run checkdisk?
If you cannot open/repair a db on a second sys, it sounds fairly terminal. I
trust you have backups, as it appears you may have to wipe the slate clean
and start over.
I take it you're aware of the requirements for installing multiple versions
of Office/Access on the same sys.

 

[Ian Logan]

I'd forgotten about chkdsk and will give it a try. As for backups, my backup
pc's hard drive failed last week, and as I had put W2K on it then my Win 98
pc would not see it. So I am not in a good position right now.
I have (had) three versions of Access running quite happily. I had ensured
they were all in separate folders.

So it looks like I am stuck. Why does Win XP do such things? A friend said
that it also corrupted a copy of Linux on another partition in his pc.
Another friend called Win XP "seek and destroy". Is there any way I can get
Microsoft to fix their mess-up?

Ian L

 

[DL]

I find it difficult to imagine that an installation of winxp, alone, would
have caused corruption to an Access db. There may have been issues with
MDAC/Jet, but they are supposed to be backward compatible.
You may care to visit your hd manu site and download their checking utility
also.

As well as installing Access/Office to separate folders, with Office only
necessary pre OfficeXP as all versions from this, install into a version
specific folder, you should install earliest version first, update, then
install next etc

 

[Tony Toews]

I installed Windows XP on my second partition and as a result it has
corrupted various Access 2, 97 and 2000 databases. It also trashed Outlook
and some Word docs!

I tried re-installing Office 97 but that did not fix it nor did trying the
Repair nor the downloadable Jetcomp.exe. I still have error 3343
"unrecognised database format". What is also strange is that although some
of the faulty files have a last modified date of the Win XP installation,
some others have dates from months ago but are still corrupted. The original
partition was Win 98.

I am wondering if the databases have been modified to Access 2003, and hence
are not recognised by earlier versions?

I'm wondering if you are trying to use A2.0 or A97 to open A2000
format MDBs? That is A97 has taken control of the .MDB file
extension. Try running A2000 and, from within A2000, open the MDBs.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

So it looks like I am stuck. Why does Win XP do such things?

HUH? You mean installing windows XP will damage a Excel, or ms-access file
that has not even been touched?

There is a limit to incompetence here.

A friend said
that it also corrupted a copy of Linux on another partition in his pc.
Another friend called Win XP "seek and destroy".

Ah, yes, while there was very possibly a conspiracy and someone was actually
on the grassy nold, I don't think so in this case. I can see some partition
problems when you setup and install multiple partitions. However, the idea
that word, excel, and ms-access files where damaged during this install is
just too far of stretch here.

When you start taking conspiracy theories, and how files that don't even
have their date changed get damaged, then I have to asking about the levels
of competence here. I not sure if your computer needs help, or you do?

I would suggest you get someone who understands this stuff to take a look at
your computer, as clearly this is not going well at all.

 

[DL]

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm
from another post

 

[Ian Logan]

Albert

Let me explain how this all happened (and prior to this ALL was well):

1. Booted the PC from a floppy and ran AEFDISK to set the second partition
active.
2. Booted from Win XP CD
3. Installed WIN XP (formatted the C: drive with FAT32)
4. Nothing else was done to either partition
5. Booted the PC from a floppy and ran AEFDISK to set the original
partition active.
6. Then discovered that there was corruption:
Outlook.pst, many Access files, Word documents with Bookmarks, RealVNC,
Solitaire(!), shortcuts with missing links, and a few other things. I first
realised there was a problem on booting up when Outlook could not find the
pst. I have managed a repair of it but not all the data was recovered.
7. Some of the Access files which were corrupted had a file date/time stamp
of the time of the WinXP installation, but some had a date of weeks ago.
8. I know what files are Access 2, 97 and 2000. So far nothing will fix the
damaged ones.

I did not come to this site to have my professional abilities slagged off
but rather to seek help for a situation that I have never come across
before. The fact that the date/time stamp of some files is during the WIN XP
install on the other partition is clearly an indication that something in
WIN XP has touched the other partition. Please also note that the people who
related their XP experiences to me are also IT professionals.

Ian L