Recovering a deleted Access mdb file from a memory stick

[Dave]

I accidently deleted an Access 2003 database (mdb file) from my memeory
stick that was attached to the USB port of my XP SP2 machine.

The deleted filed does not show up in the Recycle Bin.

I attempted to recover the file using Restoration 3.2.13
(http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Restoration.shtml)
but the restored file will not open in Access nor can I successfully run the
Compact/Repair utility on it.

Each time I try to open the restored mdb file I get a message that "MS
Access has encountered a serious problem and needs to close."

The memory stick has not been written to since the deletion.

Is there any way to recover the lost database?

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

First, always work on a copy of the database. Working on the original may
make it impossible for a repair service to fix it.

Download a copy of JetComp.exe:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273956

Try backing up your forms as text with the undocumented SaveAsText
LoadFromText functions:

http://www.datastrat.com/Code/DocDatabase.txt

You can run the above code from another database.

Also have a look at the Microsoft KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;209137

Then have a look at Tony Toews' Access Corruption FAQ at:

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

for some suggestions. Unfortunately, some corruption cannot be fixed - you
may need to create a new database, import what can be salvaged, and recreate
the rest.

Although it's a paid service, Peter Miller does an outstanding job of saving
corrupt databases. Try this URL:

http://www.pksolutions.com