Compact and Repairis a built-in utility in Microsoft Access that you can use to repair a damaged or corrupted Access database file. This utility also helps improve the performance of the database by reducing its size. But sometimes, the Compact and Repair doesn’t work and instead causes MS Access to freeze or shows an error message on the screen. At times, the utility fails to repair the database file due to severe corruption or any other reason. In such situations, you need to look for alternate solutions to repair your corrupt or damaged MS Access database file.
If the Compact and Repair utility is not working, you can follow the solutions explained below to repair and recover the corrupt database file.
Methods to Repair Corrupt Access Database File when Compact and Repair is not Working
If the Compact and Repair utility is not working, you can rename the database file and try to repair it again. You can also try to debug the VBA code as sometimes compilation error or missing reference can prevent the utility from working properly. If these don’t work, follow the below methods to repair or recover the corrupted Access database.
Method 1: Import Database Objects into a New Access Database File
If the Compact and Repair is not working, you can try to import the objects such as tables, forms, queries, etc., from the corrupted database to a new database file. Follow the below steps to do this:
- Launch MS Access on your Windows PC.
- Select the Blank desktop database option.
- Provide a name to the new database file and click on Create.
- The new database file will open. Click on the External Data tab in the ribbon and then click on Access.
- The Get External Data – Access Database window will open. Click on Browse against the File name field to select the problematic Access database file.
- Select the Import tables, queries, etc. radio button and click OK.
- Next, you will see the Import Objects window. Click on an object tab and select the required objects under it. You can click on Select All to select all the objects. Repeat the above steps to select other database objects, like queries, forms, etc. Once you have selected the required objects, click OK to proceed.
- This will begin the process of importing the selected objects from the corrupted database file into the newly created database file. Once the objects are successfully imported, click Close.
Method 2: Use an Access Database Repair Software
If the Compact and Repair utility is not working, then the best alternative to repair the corrupt Access database file is by using a powerful MS Access database repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Access. This is an advanced tool that can easily resolve all types of corruption issues in the MS Access database files (ACCDB/MDB). It can recover all the objects from the corrupted database files with complete integrity and precision.
Here are some benefits of using the Stellar Repair for Access:
- Repairs and recovers all Access database objects, such as tables, forms, macros, indexes, linked tables, modules, etc.
- Recovers deleted table records
- Repairs split database
- Recovers non-English data from the problematic database files
- Previews the database objects before saving
Steps to repair MS Access database file using the software:
- Download and install Stellar Repair for Access on your Windows PC.
- Launch the software. You will see the Select Database window.
- Click on Browse to select the corrupted Access database file.
- Once you have selected the file, click on Repair.
- Once the software successfully repairs the selected database file, it will display all the recoverable objects. You can click on any object to see its preview.
- Select the objects you want to recover and click on Save Database.
- Now, select a location to save the repaired database file and click OK.
The repaired file will be saved at the selected location. You can go to the location to check the repaired database file.
Conclusion
If the Compact and Repair tool in MS Access is not working, you can try to export the problematic database file objects to a new file as discussed above. However, the best option is to use a powerful Access database repair software, like Stellar Repair for Access. The software can help you repair the corrupt or damaged MS Access database file and recover all the objects such as forms, tables, queries, etc., in a quick and simple way.
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