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Repair MDB File (Corrupted, Inaccessible, and Unrecognized)

MDB file corrupts due use of faulty networking hardware, opening, and saving .mdb in another program, interrupted write operation and many more. To repair MDB file and fix corruption issues using free in-built utility Compact and Repair in MS Access. You will find a details and comprehensive guide to repair MDB file with or without Microsoft Access environment.

What is MDB File?

MDB is a Microsoft Access Database file used to store tables and records. This is inbuilt database file format supported by MS Access 2003. But later versions of Microsoft Access use ACCDB file format. MDB file contains all database queries, tables, and data that can be used to link to data from other files, like HTML & XML and applications, Excel and share point. It provides an Open Database Connectivity(ODBC) to the users so that users can set up their own database. No knowledge of database administration is required for creating own db.

There are certain points that you should know. Let us explore:

  • Structure: It supports tabular structure (rows and columns) to store data. Here each cloumn specifies specific fields and rows contains record values.
  • MDB Storage Type: It act as container to store tables, forms , queries, macros, reports, and modules in the MS Access database.
  • Relationship in Database: Microsoft Access uses relational database management systems (RDBS). It is quite easy to create and manage relationship between tables.
  • Multiple User Access: It supports multi-user access at the same time.
  • Corruption and Size Limitation: Microsoft Access 2003 and earlier version provides size limit to MDB file. Once size reaches to maximum limit, the file get corrupted. In this case you have to repair MDB file and make it healthy.

Microsoft Access Database Versions

There are some versions of Access db that use MDB file format by default, like Access 95, 97, 2000 & 2003. But in 2007, Microsoft Access introduced a new file format that is ACCDB and it also worked with the Access 2010, 2007 & 2010 both are also compatible with the older MDB file format. Corruption can be occurred in any of the file. In all these cases you have to perform the MDB repair steps.

Data Formats Supported by MS Access MDB File:

  • Text(Delimited)
  • Text(Fixed Width)
  • Rich Text Format
  • HTML documents
  • Excel workbooks
  • Windows SharePoint Services
  • Outlook
  • Microsoft Internet Database Connector
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages
  • XML files
  • Paradox
  • dBASE

How to Open MDB File?

Some programs are listed that can easily open MDB file. But once the MDB file is corrupted or inaccessible then non of these program can open it. In this case first repair MDB file and make it healthy and then open.

  • Using Ms Access Database: Install Ms Access to open and edit the MDB file .
  • Notepad: It is used tom open and edit text only type MDB file .
  • Microsoft Excel: Users can import data of MDB File to access to open and access file. But user data after importing will be saved in spreadsheet format.
  • Third Party Tool: It is a free program to open & edit the MDB file and the users can use it without installing MS Access.

Symptoms of MDB File Corruption

  • #Deleted appears in certain records .
  • User is unable to open MDB File

Reasons of MDB File Corruption and Solution?

MDB file corrupts due to issues in hardware and software .

  • Hardware Issues :Sometimes the hardware of your system is not working and it fails to store & transfer data to your Access database. This corrupts the database and user need to repair the mdb file. Hardware issue occurs due to corrupt storage media ,power failure and use of faulty networking device.
    • Use of corrupt Data Storage Device : Storage media devices like pen drive, hard drive get corrupted due to virus attack , formatting errors , bad sectors and use of damaged power cable . Corrupted Data storage device also corrupts the stored MDB file.
    • Faulty Networking Device : This occurs when you want to access the Access database that exist on the server & you try to access it from a client system, through network links. But due to some reasons the network links have some problems, then the remote access of the MDB database gets corrupted due to use of faulty devices such as network interface cards, network cabling, routers, and hubs and many more. And user need to repair MDB file.
    • Power Failure : It occurs when the process to access the MDB database, is going on then it may corrupt the db file and user need to fix corrupt MDB file .

There are many techniques to repair MDB file and then recover or reduce the Access database corruption issues. For example, always use the well founded hardware devices because good devices can minimize the chances of data corruption. And with the help of good devices user can easily restore MDB file.

  • Software Issues : MDB database Access gets corrupted due to software related issues such as incorrect file system recovery, invalid or useless data, virus attack, improper shut down of MS Access, opening and saving MDB file in another program, interrupted write operations .

Solutions to Repair MDB File

Some time it is become quite challenging to repair corrupted or inaccessible MDB file. But there are multiple solutions avaialble, that a user can try to repair MDB file and make it accessible. Some of the methods are explain in below section:

Solution-1 Repair MDB File Manually Using Compact & Repair Utility

Microsoft Access provides a useful built-in utility that helps to repair access database file . Follow steps to use free utility:

  • Take backup of corrupt database (.mdb) file.
  • Delete the .ldb file if it is present.
    Note : The .ldb file contains information about which records are locked in a shared database and by whom.
  • Run the Compact and Repair utility to repair MDB file.
    • For MS Access 2003 Users
      • Go to Tools menu, select Database Utilities.
      • hen Choose Compact and Repair Database option.
    • MS Access 2007 Users
      • Click on Office button.
      • Select Manage.
      • Choose Compact and Repair Database option.
    • MS Access 2010 Users
      • Click on Office tab.
      • Select Compact and Repair option.

Solution-2: Repair MDB File Using Third-Party Software

Another solution to repair MDB file is the use of third party tool Access Recovery by SysTools that will help you for MDB Recovery instantly. This will help you to repair Access MDB file & help users to restore permanently deleted MDB data.

Steps to Repair MDB File Using SysTools Software

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  • Step-1: Download and Install the MDB Repair Tool on your system and browse the corrupted MDB file into software using Browse option.

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  • Step-2:After adding MDB file into software pannel hit the Recover button to scan the browsed MDB file for fixing corruption, damaged, and inaccessible issues.

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  • Step-3:Now the MDB repair tool will list all the tables after completing the scan process. You can explore and preview data by selecting the table. After that click on Export button.

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  • Step-4:Select a export option from MS Access (.accdb), MS Access (.mdb), CSV. For this coose corresponding radio button. After that choose export options Only Schema or Schema and Data radio button. After doing all these hit Export/Save button.

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  • Step-5:Now your corrupted, inaccessible, or damaged MDB file has been scaned and changed into healthy file. Repair MDB file process is completed, the tool will show you success report.

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Conclusion

Use free utility Compact and Repair ustility to repair Access MDB file. Built-in access recovery option fails to repair MDB file then use a third party MDB repair tool to restore MDB file.