I can't open .mdb file.

[SemperFi 1967]

I created a simple .mdb file on my office computer using Access 2003. When I
attempted to continue working on it on my home computer, also on Access 2003,
I received the following error msg: "The database XYZ.mdb needs to be
repaired or isn't a database file" Thinking it was corrupted, I tried to
repair it, but MS Office won't repair it saying "Unrecognized database
format...It can't be repaired or isn't a MS Access Database File". I brought
the file back to work and it opens up beautifully with no problems. So I
returned that night with the file (Memory stick), and the same thing has
happened. ???? Both Access 2003 programs are up to date with all updates
and are the exact same version numbers. I've never had this happen before.
What do I do?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dirk Goldgar]

I created a simple .mdb file on my office computer using Access 2003.
When I attempted to continue working on it on my home computer, also
on Access 2003, I received the following error msg: "The database
XYZ.mdb needs to be repaired or isn't a database file" Thinking it
was corrupted, I tried to repair it, but MS Office won't repair it
saying "Unrecognized database format...It can't be repaired or isn't
a MS Access Database File". I brought the file back to work and it
opens up beautifully with no problems. So I returned that night with
the file (Memory stick), and the same thing has happened. ???? Both
Access 2003 programs are up to date with all updates and are the
exact same version numbers. I've never had this happen before. What
do I do?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm. When you copied the file onto the memory stick, was the database
open or closed at that time?

Do you have more than one version of Access installed on either of these
computers?

 

[SemperFi 1967]

Thanks for the quick response Dick. The original file was emailed to my
home. I then went back to work the next day and copied it to the stick.
Both times Access was closed properly before copy the file. There is only
one version of Access on either computer. ( and they are exactly the same).
The weird thing is that when I try to open it on the office computer where it
was created, it works fine. I have swapped files many times between the
computers and have never had this problem.

 

[Dirk Goldgar]

Thanks for the quick response Dick. The original file was emailed to
my home. I then went back to work the next day and copied it to the
stick. Both times Access was closed properly before copy the file.
There is only one version of Access on either computer. ( and they
are exactly the same). The weird thing is that when I try to open it
on the office computer where it was created, it works fine. I have
swapped files many times between the computers and have never had
this problem.

It does seem odd. I have to take your word for it that you have the
same version of Access on both computers. Of the two file format
available to Access 2003, which file format is this database in, Access
2000 format or Access 2002-2003 format?

Do I understand correctly that you brought the file back to the
office -- the same copy of the file that couldn't be opened at home --
and it worked at the office?

Are you sure that the file wasn't converted to some compressed format
when you e-mailed it or copied it to the memory stick? Do you have a
copy of the file that wouldn't open at home, that you'd be willing to
e-mail to me? You can get my correct e-mail address from my website,
which is listed in my signature below.