How to Fix Access Database Corruption?

Access database corruption is one of the common issues that Microsoft Access users frequently encounter. The Access database files get corrupted due to different reasons. When you try to open a corrupted Access database file, it shows various errors and stops you from accessing the data. So, to fix access database corruption in the database as soon as possible is critical. This post will help you repair corrupt database files by providing some do-it-yourself methods. It will also mention a reliable Access database recovery tool for quick database repair and recovery.

Understanding Corruption in Access Database

When working on the Access database, you can experience different errors caused by corruption in database files. Corruption in the Access database can occur due to faulty storage devices, interruption during file transfer, sudden power outage, or sudden system shutdown.

However, various methods are available to fix Access database corruption issues. Before moving towards troubleshooting methods, first, you need to understand if the Access database file is corrupt. Some common signs of corruption are:

• Error messages appear when trying to open or work on database files.
• The database has missing objects (tables, forms, queries, or records).
• Application or File repeatedly crashes.

How to Fix Access Database Corruption?

Follow the below methods to repair Access database files.

Method 1: Restore from Backup

When your database file gets corrupted, you can use the backup to restore the data. The database backups are purposely saved and come in handy if there is any issue with the objects in the database file. For restoring the backup, ensure the database backup file is readily available and the file location is known.

Perform the following steps to restore the Access database from backup:

• Open File Explorer. Browse and select the Access database folder.
• Copy the backup file to the location of the affected database.
• Replace the existing File with the backup file when prompted.

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Method 2: Try Importing Data into a New Database

There are chances that all the data in the database is not affected. If corruption in the database has created issues in the objects, you can try to import the data into a new database file. It helps rebuild the database structure and recreate affected objects in the new database. Also, it allows you to import elements into a new database selectively. Here’s how:

• First, create a new database file in your Access application. Go to File> New and click Blank Desktop database to do this.

• Click External Data and then click on the Access option.

• The Get External Data – Access Database window is displayed. Click on Browse to select the desired database.
• Click the option labeled “Import tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules into the current database.” Click OK.
• In the Import Objects window, you can select the desired objects you want to import or click the Select All option to restore all the objects.

• Click OK.

Method 3: Run Compact and Repair Tool

The built-in Compact and Repair utility in MS Access scans and fixes damaged database files. It also makes large-size database files smaller by deleting unused space. Follow the below steps to run the Compact and Repair utility:

• Open your Microsoft Access application.
• Double-click the Blank Database on the Templates page.
• Click the File option and then Close.
• Click the “Database Tools” option, then select Compact and Repair Database.
• Click the desired Access database file (.mdb) in the Database to Compact From dialog box.

The repaired and compacted copy of the .mdb file is saved at the exact location where you’ve stored the original File.

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Method 4: Use Professional Access Repair Software

The Compact and Repair tool may not give the intended results in some complex scenarios. In such a case, you can use reliable Access database software, such as Stellar Repair for Access, to repair the corrupted database. The tool can recover all the elements from the corrupted database file with 100% integrity.

The tool has a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to perform the repair operation. You can download the software’s demo version to see how it works. It is compatible with Windows 11 and below versions.

Some key features of this easy-to-use Access repair tool are:

• Repairs corrupted .mdb/.accdb database files
• Repairs all objects from the damaged Access database files, including macros, queries, forms, and tables
• Fixes all the types of Access database corruption errors
• Repairs split Access database
• Compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, and later
• Supports MS Access 2019 and lower versions
• Offers selective recovery of database objects

Closure

Above, we have discussed different methods to fix access database corruption. You can create a new database and import all the objects from the corrupt database into it. You can use the Compact and Repair tool to fix minor issues in the database.

However, if the database file is severely damaged, the best option is to use an advanced Access Repair Tool, e.g., Stellar Repair for Access. It can quickly repair severely corrupt database files and recover all the data. This tool has an advanced algorithm to handle complex corruption issues.

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