Lost Database

[Guest]

Dear Experts
We run databases originally created in Access 97, but now use Office 2007.
We ran Compact and Repair and somehow the database has been deleted, even
though there was an error message saying that the file was read only. Afraid
we didn't make a backup before running Compact & Repair.

Any ideas how to retrieve the data?

Thanks
John

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, John.

Any ideas how to retrieve the data?

I've had this happen twice and bizarrely enough, I eventually found the
files in Microsoft's "default" directories that I _never_ use -- for
anything.

Look for the file in these two directories:

C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\My Documents

C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Application Data\Microsoft\Access

If it's not there, then search your entire hard drive for the file. If you
can't find it, then you'll have to resort to a data retrieval company's
expensive services, with no guarantee that they can retrieve a working
database file (i.e., data can be extracted from it).

The best policy really is to back up on a regular basis, even if you think
you won't need it.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Guest]

What Gunny said. Also search for databases named something like DB1.mdb.
When Access does a C&R, it first creates a temporary copy of the database
before deleting the original. If something went wrong, the temporary copy
may still be there.

If the database are in the new A07 format, I don't know what the file name
will be.

 

[Guest]

Thanks - but no sign of them anywhere, on the server or local PC. I've
managed to locate a backup from 2 weeks ago, but will ensure better backup
practice from now on.
John

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Jerry
There's no sign of it under .mdb or .acc or any file name I can find. I
think access has just eaten it! Still, a lesson learned the hard way, I
suppose.
John

 

[Guest]

I've also lost hours of work, multiple times, where Compact on CLose blew
away entire Front end of A2007 database. No copy, backup, db1.accdb..nothing..

 

[Guest]

We have now taken to making our copy of databsases on an almost daily basis,
in additiona to our weekly full server backup, although we've had no more
problems since this incident.

 

[Chuck_Mex]

Same here, "Press "Esc" to interrupt" is actually an statement shown when
compacting and repairing. Didi it and now the only thing I get is a "ID not
an index", my whole front end is corrupt, so far no option available to
recover.
Access 97-2003 have plenty of options and programs, A2007? none, according
to multiple posts, the reason is the former Jet engine has changed to
something else. I'm starting to regret upgrading.

 

[tcraft]

I lost 3 days worth of work on a new A07 front end for my company in the
blink of an eye. I'm no Access guru, but a newer version should be at least
as stable as the earlier ones. I've been working in Access for almost 10
years, and I've never experienced this. No sign of my file anywhere on my PC
or the Server. I would suggest not using "Compact on Close" moving forward
in Access 2007. I'll be backing up more frequently also.

Are there any "magical remedies" to recovering my file since the last posts?

 

[John Spencer MVP]

See
http://allenbrowne.com/Access2007.html#Bugs

If you don't have SP2 installed this can happen.

John Spencer
Access MVP 2002-2005, 2007-2009
The Hilltop Institute
University of Maryland Baltimore County