Recover Deleted Records from Corrupt Microsoft Access Database

Read time 7 minutes

Microsoft Access, a vital component of the Microsoft Office suite, empowers users to create versatile databases for managing various data types, from contacts and tasks to events and projects. However, database corruption poses a significant threat. MBD and ACCDB files are susceptible to damage, resulting in issues such as #Deleted records or inaccessible objects. While Access offers an inbuilt compact and repair tool, we will explore additional methods and preventive steps to mitigate database corruption’s impact. If you’re seeking guidance on repairing a corrupt Microsoft Access Database, this article is your essential resource.

Causes of Damage of Database Files

• A hardware issue or failure
• A conflict between software
• Accidental deletion of data or formatting of media
• Restoring from an outdated backup

If you’re seeking dependable methods to safeguard your Access database and prevent potential data loss, consider the following approaches:

This can be termed as the best way to recover data after the deletion of records. But for this, you should have a backup.

Note: To create a backup copy, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Open the database that needs to be backed up and go to the File tab.
2. Select the Save As tab. Now select Save Database As > Back Up Database and click Save As.
   
3. Provide the necessary information and click Save.

Over time, Access database files may grow in size and become susceptible to corruption. This is where the Compacting and Repairing function becomes essential. As the name implies, it serves to both compress and repair these databases.

• Open the database that needs to be backed up and go to the File tab. From the Info tab, select Compact and Repair.
  

If, for any reason, Compact and Repair fails, leaving you uncertain about how to recover your Access Database, don’t worry. This tutorial will guide you through alternative methods and solutions to regain control of your database.

If you are looking for reliable ways to recover deleted Access records from a corrupt database, then try the following methods:

1. Make a copy of the corrupted file (.mbd/.accdb) so that you have a backup.
2. Any files with extensions .ldb/.laccdb should be deleted. Make sure to close the .mbd/.accdb files before you delete .ldb/.laccdb files.
3. Now run the Compact and repair utility, as mentioned in the previous section.
4. If the previous method didn’t work out for you, then try creating a new database and start importing the objects one-by-one, from an old database to the new one. This might resolve the problems with damaged system tables in the database.

Note: It is not possible to import data access pages with the Import Wizard. Instead, try opening the existing data access page in a new database. Follow the steps to do so:

1. Go to the Database window and click Pages under Objects.
2. Now click on New.
3. In the New Data Access Page dialog box, click Existing Web page, and click OK.
4. Now locate the Web Page window and browse for the location of the data access page.
5. If the table is damaged and you had no success with the previous steps, then do try the following:
   1. In MS Access, export the damaged table to an ASCII file.
   2. Delete any existing relationships associated with this table and then proceed to delete the table from the database.
   3. Compact the database.
   4. Proceed to re-create the table and any relationships it had.
   5. With the help of a word processor, examine the ASCII file for bad data and get rid of it from the records.
   6. Now re-import the ASCII file into a newly created table.
   7. Proceed to re-enter any records that you have deleted.
6. If the form of reports is damaged, then you can delete it and import it from the backup copy of your database or use the following options:
   1. If you are sure about the fact that the damage is in the form or report, then create a new form or report and copy the controls from the original form or report afterward.
   2. If the forms and reports are affected, then proceed to re-create the controls on the new form or reports as there is no way to tell which controls are damaged.
7. If the macro or a module is damaged, then it means that the damage is either in the macro or module itself or in the contents of the macro or module. You can delete the macro or module and import it from the backup copy of your database. Try considering the following options:
   1. If the macro or module is itself damaged, then create a new one and copy the contents of the original macro or module
   2. A non-ASCII character embedded in the module might be damaged. Save the module as a .txt file and remove any bad data and reload the text into a new module.

Note: If you are still unable to repair the database with these steps, then it implies that the MS Access database is severely damaged and is beyond repair. In such a case, the best you can do is restore your last backup database or re-create the database. Alternatively, you can look for an MS Access database repair tool.

If manual methods prove ineffective, it’s time to consider a dependable Access database recovery tool. Kernel for Access Recovery is one such solution with notable features, including:

• Recover permanently deleted records
• Retrieve full database table
• Easily extract password protected modules and forms
• Preview feature to view recovered files
• Works for all MS Access versions— 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000

The complete tool process is outlined below:

1. The user is asked to browse for the corrupted Access database files for repair; once done, hit Repair.
   
2. The tool will now attempt to repair the file. Depending on the size of the file, the process might take a while. One can check the status of the repair process via the progress bar.
   
3. Next, one can Preview and Save the recovered file.
   

Conclusion

This blog post has delved into the causes of Access database file damage and offered simple preventive measures to protect your data. Additionally, we’ve provided an in-depth exploration of a professional approach to recovering deleted records from corrupt MS Access databases. For severe database corruption, we strongly recommend using Kernel for Access Recovery.