invalid argument messages and huge file

[Jeff Green]

I am running Access under Office 2000 on Windows '98. I
have been updating an mdb database file, linking images
located in an external file to the database (OLE). There
are perhaps 250 image files linked to a database of about
500 entries.
Suddenly, every action I attempt elicits the error
message "invalid argument." Even trying to close the file
gets the same followed by "You can't save this record..."
Hence, I can't save any changes.
In addition, under Explorer I see that the database file
size is now a whopping 2 gigabytes? This seems
impossible! Anyone know what gives? Could this be a
virus? A corrupt file? Can the data be saved? Please
help, as I have no clue what to do next. Thanks, Jeff
Green ([email protected])

 

[Van T. Dinh]

You have reached the size limit of A2K0 database!

Do a Compact and Repair to remove unused temporary space in your mdb.

Note that Access is very in efficient in storing OLE graphic file. The
normal way to avoid this is storing graphic files separately and simply
storing the paths to the graphic files in Access.

 

[Jeff Green]

Thanks for your reply and advice. Unfortunately, I tried
doing the Compact and Repair, but it didn't work. It
actually was working I believe for ten or so minutes, but
then stopped and gave me the error message "invalid
argument" again. I tried running it a second time with the
same results. File size is still over 2 gigs. Do you
know of anything else I should try? Can I recover the
data? Thanks, very much. JG

 

[Van T. Dinh]

Sorry, only guesses since I never let my databases go over 500 MB (quite a
big database without graphics).

Try:

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/corruptmdbs.htm

http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/?id=209137

http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/?id=298174

 

[smsgojets]

the pictures get added to the database. Access has a 2GB max which is why you get the ivalid arguement reading