Microsoft Access 2007 users may experience database corruption, mainly when the database runs in a multi-user environment. Some users might detect corruption at an early stage when prompted by Access to compact and repair the database. Others might still not know their database is corrupted but may encounter an error, such as:
“The database engine Micro Jet has stopped the treatment because you and another user attempts to modify the same data at the same time.”
This error message may occur when attempting to mount the database.
Also read: Top 10 Access Database Corruption Causes
What Causes Access 2007 Database Corruption in Multi-user Environment?
When using an Access database in a multi-user environment, the database file (.mdb or .accdb) is stored on a shared network folder, allowing multiple users to access that file simultaneously. The users can also modify the shared database records. But, multiple users changing the data at the same time can corrupt the database and make its data inaccessible.
Troubleshooting and Preventing Access 2007 Database Corruption in Multi-user Environment
Methods to Troubleshoot Access 2007 Database Corruption
| Note: Before repairing your corrupt Access database, try restoring the database, along with its data from an updated backup copy. If this fails, proceed with the solutions discussed below. |
Method 1 – Compact and Repair Database
| Note: For multi-user databases, make sure that any user does not open the database before compacting and repairing. |
Follow these steps to compact and repair Access database:
- Open your Access 2007 application, and click on the Office button.
Figure 1 – MS Office Button in Access 2007
- Click Manage > Compact and Repair Database.
Figure 2 – Compact and Repair Access 2007 Database Your database will now be compacted and repaired, and the repaired database will get saved at the same location as the original db.
If database corruption persists, try using a professional Access database repair tool.
Method 2 – Use Stellar Repair for Access
With Stellar Repair for Access software, you can repair severely corrupt Access database (ACCDB or MDB) files in a few simple steps. Also, it helps recover all the database objects, like tables, forms, reports, macros, modules, etc. The software can also recover deleted table records. The Access repair tool from Stellar® supports Access 2007 and higher versions.
Steps to Repair Corrupt Access 2007 Database by using Stellar Repair for Access Software
Step 1: Run Stellar Repair for Access software.
Figure 3 – Illustrates Selecting Corrupt Access Database File in Stellar Repair for Access Step 2: Browse and select the corrupt database file you want to repair.
| Note: If you do not know the Access database file location, use the ‘Search’ option to find the file. |
Figure 4 – Illustrates Repairing Selected Access Database File in Stellar Repair for Access Step 3: Click Repair to begin the database repair process.
Step 4: Click OK when the ‘Repairing Complete’ message box pops-up.
Figure 5 – Illustrates Completion of Access Database Repair Process in Stellar Repair for AccessStep 5: The software will display a preview of all the recoverable Access database objects.
Figure 6 – Illustrates Preview of Recoverable Database Components in Stellar Repair for Access Step 6: Select all or specific objects you want to recover from the repaired file, and then click Save Database on File menu for saving the file.
Figure 7 – Illustrates Saving Database File Option in Stellar Repair for Access Step 7: Select the default or a new location to save the repaired Access database file in the ‘Save At’ window, and then click OK.
Figure 8 – Illustrates Repaired Database File Saving Options in Stellar Repair for Access The repaired db file will get saved at the specified location.
Preventing Access 2007 Database Corruption in Multi-user Environment
Once the Access database is repaired, you must split the database into a back-end database (containing tables) and a front-end database (containing database objects). Let’s understand why:
The back-end database is stored on a shared network drive and can be linked to the front-end database stored locally on a user’s computer. By distributing the front-end database, you can allow users to interact with the local copy of the front-end database instead of the network shared file. Meaning, users can make changes in the local database copy, preventing them from making any edits or modifications to the server’s shared database. This helps avoid the shared database from becoming corrupt.
You can split an Access database by using the Access built-in ‘Database Splitter’ tool. To access this tool, you need to click on Database Tools and select the Access Database option from Move Data section. Once the ‘Database Splitter’ dialog box opens, click Split to begin the splitting process.
Figure 9 – Database Splitter Tool in Access 2007 Conclusion
In this blog, we’ve discussed about the ‘Access 2007 database corruption in multi-user environment’ issue and how you can fix it. You can use the ‘Compact and Repair’ method to repair the corrupt Access database file or use Stellar Repair for Access software to repair severely corrupted db files. The Access repair software can efficiently and quickly repair corrupt MDB or ACCDB files to restore the database.
But, keep in mind, a shared database is prone to corruption. You can prevent such an issue by splitting the database, as discussed in this blog.
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