Database corruption

[Ken E]

Tried to open an archived database that was created in
Access95. Currently running Access2000. Error is "File
Not Found" in a Microsoft Visual Basic popup window
message. The database opens up and then locks up after
the 'file not found' message is displayed. How can I
convert this file to Access2000 or copy the data stored in
the tables into another DB?

 

[Wayne Morgan]

To copy the data in the tables, in the new database go to File|Get External
Data...

Right off-hand, I would guess that there is a reference set to an add-in and
is being called in the autoexec macro or the Open event of the initial form.
Try opening the database while holding down the shift key to see if you can
bypass the startup items and get by this.

 

[Ken E]

Same error message occurs when holding the shift key down
during start. Any other ideas?

Ken

 

[Wayne Morgan]

Make a copy of the file first. Try opening it with the following command
line.

"<path>\msaccess.exe" "<path>\MyDatabase.mdb" /excl /decompile

Next, try the following, whether the first one worked or not.
"<path>\msaccess.exe" "<path>\MyDatabase.mdb" /excl /compact

It is possible that the file was set to disable "special keys", this would
prevent the shift key from helping. Can you get to the tables using the
import command from another database? You should also be able to get to the
other database objects this way. Sometimes importing everything into a new
database solves the problem. If it doesn't, you may want to try the import
one object at a time until you can't open the new database any more. The
last object you imported will probably be the corrupt one. Start over and
import everything except that object and see what happens. Repeat if there
turns out to be more than one corrupted object.