Unrecognized Database Format

[rhubarb]

Hello all -

I'm seeing this error on a back-end database (.accdb) that has been working fine for months. The database file resides on a server share that is access by multiple front-end users. Suddenly, the links from the front-end to the back-end broke for all users connected and I am unable to connect them with linked table manager. I keep getting the "unrecognized database format" error.



I've tried the following:

1. Compact and repair on a copy of the corrupt database -- this does not work in 2013 as I cannot even open the database. I tried it in 2010 as well but it resulted in the "unrecognized database format" error.

2. Create new Access database and get external data using the import and link to the corrupt access database -- this fails with same error.

Thank you for any help!

[CJ_London]

sounds like your db is well and truly corrupted. I would suggest you need to be prepared to revert to a backup

However, one other thing to try if you can open the db. (I presume you can because you tried to compact it). Can you export each table to a .csv file (not excel or other format)? If so, export each table then create a new db and import each text file. You'll need to recreate indexes and relationships. You may find one or more tables won't export - these you may need to recreate.

Also found these links suggesting some other strategies

http://www.accessdatabaserepair.com/...ase-format.htm
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...atabase-format
http://bytes.com/topic/access/answer...atabase-format

[rhubarb]

Thank you for the reply. I am not able to open the database at all. In Access 2010 you can point compact and repair to the corrupt database but not in 2013. I'll check out the links. Thanks again.