Knowledge Base

You receive the "The database is in an unexpected state" error message when you try to open a database in Access 2000 or a later version of Access

Article ID: 888634

Article Last Modified on 9/28/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Office Access 2007
Microsoft Office Access 2003
Microsoft Access 2002 Standard Edition
Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) file or to a Microsoft Access database (.accdb) file.

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a database in Microsoft Access 2000 or a later version, you receive the following error message:

The database is in an unexpected state

CAUSE

This problem may occur when you use the Data Access Object (DAO) library to convert a database that you created in Microsoft Access 97 or an earlier version by using the CompactDatabase method. The CompactDatabase method may leave the new database in a partially converted state.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Use the Convert Database command when you have the original database

If you still have a copy of the original database in its original format, use the Convert Database command. To do this, follow these steps:

Access 2000, Access 2002, or Access 2003

Make a backup copy of the original database.
Start Access 2000 or a later version.
On the Tools menu, click Database Utilities, click Convert Database, and then click To Access 2000 File Format.

Note If you are using Access 2000, only To Current Access Database Version appears on the Convert Database menu.

In the Database to Convert From dialog box, click the database file name that you want to convert, and then click Convert.
In the Convert Database Into dialog box, type the new name of the database file, and then click Save.

Access 2007

Make a backup copy of the original database.
Try to open that database.
When you open an Access 97 or Access 95 file format .mdb database, Access displays the Database Enhancement dialog box. You are prompted to upgrade the database.
Click Yes to upgrade the database to whichever file format you have selected as the default file format in Access 2007. After you convert the database, you can make design changes to the file in Access 2007. However, you can no longer open the database by using a version of Access earlier than the version to which you converted the database.

Method 2: Recover the database data and the database queries when you do not have the original nonsecured database

If you do not have a copy of the original nonsecured database in its original format and you have tried standard corruption troubleshooting techniques, try to recover the database data and the database queries. To do this, follow these steps:

Make a backup copy of the original database.
Start Access 2000 or a later version.
Access 2000, Access 2002, or Access 2003
- Click Blank Access database, type the new database name in the File name box, and then click Create.
Access 2007
- Click Office button, click New, click Blank Database, and then click Create to create a new blank database.
Access 2000, Access 2002, or Access 2003
- On the Insert menu, click Module. The Microsoft Visual Basic Editor starts, and a new module is created.
Access 2007
- On the Create tab, click the down arrow below Macro, and then click Module. The Microsoft Visual Basic Editor starts, and a new module is created.
On the Tools menu, click References.
In the Available References list, locate Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library, and then click to select the Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library check box.

Note DAO 3.6 is also available on Windows XP Home Edition.
To close the References dialog box, click OK.

Paste the following code into the new module that you created.

Sub RecoverCorruptDB()
    Dim dbCorrupt As DAO.Database
    Dim dbCurrent As DAO.Database
    Dim td As DAO.TableDef
    Dim tdNew As DAO.TableDef
    Dim fld As DAO.Field
    Dim fldNew As DAO.Field
    Dim ind As DAO.Index
    Dim indNew As DAO.Index
    Dim qd As DAO.QueryDef
    Dim qdNew As DAO.QueryDef
    Dim strDBPath As String
    Dim strQry As String
    
    ' Replace the following path with the path of the
    ' corrupted database.
    strDBPath = "C:\My Documents\yourDatabase.mdb"
    
    On Error Resume Next
    Set dbCurrent = CurrentDb
    Set dbCorrupt = OpenDatabase(strDBPath)
 
    For Each td In dbCorrupt.TableDefs
        If Left(td.Name, 4) <> "MSys" Then
            strQry = "SELECT * INTO [" & td.Name & "] FROM [" & td.Name & "] IN '" & dbCorrupt.Name & "'"
            dbCurrent.Execute strQry, dbFailOnError
            dbCurrent.TableDefs.Refresh
            Set tdNew = dbCurrent.TableDefs(td.Name)
            
            ' Re-create the indexes on the table.
            For Each ind In td.Indexes
                Set indNew = tdNew.CreateIndex(ind.Name)
                For Each fld In ind.Fields
                    Set fldNew = indNew.CreateField(fld.Name)
                    indNew.Fields.Append fldNew
                Next
                indNew.Primary = ind.Primary
                indNew.Unique = ind.Unique
                indNew.IgnoreNulls = ind.IgnoreNulls
                tdNew.Indexes.Append indNew
                tdNew.Indexes.Refresh
            Next
        End If
    Next
        
    ' Re-create the queries.
    For Each qd In dbCorrupt.QueryDefs
        If Left(qd.Name, 4) <> "~sq_" Then
            Set qdNew = dbCurrent.CreateQueryDef(qd.Name, qd.SQL)
        End If
    Next
    
    dbCorrupt.Close
    Application.RefreshDatabaseWindow
    MsgBox "Procedure Complete."
End Sub

Note The code will try to import all tables and all queries from the corrupted database into the current database. Replace C:\My Documents\yourDatabase.mdb with the correct path and file name of your database.

To run the code, click Run Sub/UserForm on the Run menu.

Method 3: Recover the database data when you do not have the original secured database

If you do not have a copy of the original secured database in its original format and you have tried standard corruption troubleshooting techniques, try to recover the database data. To do this, follow these steps:

Make a backup copy of the original database.
Start Access 2000 or a later version.
Access 2000, Access 2002, or Access 2003
- Click Blank Access database, type the new database name in the File name box, and then click Create.
Access 2007
- Click the Microsoft Office Button, click New, click Blank Database, and then click Create to create a new blank database.
Access 2000, Access 2002, or Access 2003
- On the Insert menu, click Module. The Microsoft Visual Basic Editor starts, and a new module is created.
Access 2007
- On the Create tab, click the down arrow below Macro, and then click Module. The Microsoft Visual Basic Editor starts, and a new module is created.
On the Tools menu, click References.
In the Available References list, locate Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library, and then click to select the Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library check box.
To close the References dialog box, click OK.

Paste the following code into the new module that you created.

Option Compare Database

Function BackupSecureDatabase()
    
   On Error GoTo Err_BackupSecureDatabase
   Dim wrkDefault As DAO.Workspace
   Dim dbsNew As DAO.Database
   Dim dbeSecure As DAO.PrivDBEngine
   Dim wrkSecure As DAO.Workspace
   Dim dbsSecure As DAO.Database
   Dim tdfSecure As DAO.TableDef
   Dim strSecureUser As String
   Dim strSecurePwd As String
   Dim strSecurePathToDatabase As String
   Dim strSecurePathToWorkgroupFile As String
   Dim strTableName As String
   Dim strSQL As String
   Dim dbsTemp As DAO.Database
   Dim strTempPathToDatabase As String
   Dim strBackupPathToDatabase As String
   Dim strLogPath As String
   Dim SourceRec As DAO.Recordset
   Dim DestRec As DAO.Recordset
       

   ' Set the variables (change for environment).
   strSecurePathToDatabase = "C:\MyDatabases\Northwind.mdb"
   strSecurePathToWorkgroupFile = "C:\MyDatabases\Secured.mdw"
   strSecureUser = "Administrator"
   strSecurePwd = "password"
   strTempPathToDatabase = "C:\MyDatabases\Temp.mdb"
   strBackupPathToDatabase = "C:\MyDatabases\Backup.mdb"
   strLogPath = "C:\MyDatabases\Backup.log"
   
   ' Open the log file.
   Open strLogPath For Output As #1
   Print #1, Time, "Log file opened"
   Print #1, Time, "Variables set"
   
   ' Delete old files.
   If Dir(strTempPathToDatabase) <> "" Then Kill strTempPathToDatabase
   If Dir(strBackupPathToDatabase) <> "" Then Kill strBackupPathToDatabase
   Print #1, Time, "Old backup files deleted"
   
   ' Create the new temp database.
   Set wrkDefault = DBEngine.Workspaces(0)
   Set dbsNew = wrkDefault.CreateDatabase(strTempPathToDatabase, dbLangGeneral)
   Set dbsNew = Nothing
   Print #1, Time, "Temp database created"
   
   ' Open the secured database.
   Set dbeSecure = New PrivDBEngine
   dbeSecure.SystemDB = strSecurePathToWorkgroupFile
   dbeSecure.DefaultUser = strSecureUser
   dbeSecure.DefaultPassword = strSecurePwd
   
   Set wrkSecure = dbeSecure.Workspaces(0)
   Set dbsSecure = wrkSecure.OpenDatabase(strSecurePathToDatabase)
   Print #1, Time, "Secured database opened from " & strSecurePathToDatabase
   
   ' Open the temp database.
   DBEngine(0).CreateUser
   Set dbsTemp = DBEngine(0).OpenDatabase(strTempPathToDatabase)
   
   Print #1, Time, "Temp database opened from " & strTempPathToDatabase
   
   ' Loop through the tables in the secured database.
   For Each tdfSecure In dbsSecure.TableDefs
       strTableName = tdfSecure.Name
       If Left(strTableName, 4) <> "MSys" Then
           Print #1, Time, "Export of " & strTableName
           ' Copy the table definition to the temp database.
           If CopyTableDef(tdfSecure, dbsTemp, strTableName) Then
               ' Then append all the data into the table.
                Set SourceRec = tdfSecure.OpenRecordset(dbOpenTable, dbReadOnly)
                Set DestRec = dbsTemp.OpenRecordset(strTableName)
                AppendRecordsFromOneRecordSetToAnother SourceRec, DestRec 
                SourceRec.Close
                DestRec.Close

           End If
       End If
   Next tdfSecure

   ' Close open objects.
   dbsSecure.Close
   Print #1, Time, "Secured database closed"
   dbsTemp.Close
   Print #1, Time, "Temp database closed"
       
   ' Compact the database into the backup database.
   DBEngine.CompactDatabase strTempPathToDatabase, strBackupPathToDatabase, dbLangGeneral
   Print #1, Time, "New backup database created at " & strBackupPathToDatabase
   
   ' Delete the temp database.
   If Dir(strTempPathToDatabase) <> "" Then Kill strTempPathToDatabase
   Print #1, Time, "Temp database deleted"
   Print #1, Time, "Log file closed"
   Close #1

Exit_BackupSecureDatabase:

   Set wrkDefault = Nothing
   Set dbsNew = Nothing
   Set dbeSecure = Nothing
   Set wrkSecure = Nothing
   Set dbsSecure = Nothing
   Set tdfSecure = Nothing
   Set dbsTemp = Nothing
   Exit Function

Err_BackupSecureDatabase:
   Print #1, Time, "     ***ERROR: " & Err.Number, Err.Description, strTableName
   Resume Next

End Function


Function CopyTableDef(SourceTableDef As TableDef, TargetDB As Database, TargetName As String) As Integer
Dim SI As DAO.Index, SF As DAO.Field, SP As DAO.Property
Dim T As DAO.TableDef, I As DAO.Index, F As DAO.Field, P As DAO.Property
Dim I1 As Integer, f1 As Integer, P1 As Integer
  
  If SourceTableDef.Attributes And dbAttachedODBC Or SourceTableDef.Attributes And dbAttachedTable Then
    CopyTableDef = False
    Exit Function
  End If
  Set T = TargetDB.CreateTableDef(TargetName)
  
  ' Copy Jet Properties.
    On Error Resume Next
    For P1 = 0 To T.Properties.Count - 1
      If T.Properties(P1).Name <> "Name" Then
        T.Properties(P1).Value = SourceTableDef.Properties(P1).Value
      End If
    Next P1
    On Error GoTo 0
    
  ' Copy Fields.
    For f1 = 0 To SourceTableDef.Fields.Count - 1
      Set SF = SourceTableDef.Fields(f1)
      
      ' DAO 3.0 and later versions. ****
      If (SF.Attributes And dbSystemField) = 0 Then
        Set F = T.CreateField()
        ' Copy Jet Properties.
          On Error Resume Next
          For P1 = 0 To F.Properties.Count - 1
            F.Properties(P1).Value = SF.Properties(P1).Value
          Next P1
          On Error GoTo 0
        T.Fields.Append F
      End If ' Corresponding End If ****
    Next f1
    
  ' Copy Indexes.
    For I1 = 0 To SourceTableDef.Indexes.Count - 1
      Set SI = SourceTableDef.Indexes(I1)
      
      ' Foreign indexes are added by relationships.
      If Not SI.Foreign Then
        Set I = T.CreateIndex()
        ' Copy Jet Properties.
          On Error Resume Next
          For P1 = 0 To I.Properties.Count - 1
            I.Properties(P1).Value = SI.Properties(P1).Value
          Next P1
          On Error GoTo 0
        ' Copy Fields.
          For f1 = 0 To SI.Fields.Count - 1
            Set F = T.CreateField(SI.Fields(f1).Name, T.Fields(SI.Fields(f1).Name).Type)
            I.Fields.Append F
          Next f1
        T.Indexes.Append I
      End If
    Next I1

' Append TableDef.
  TargetDB.TableDefs.Append T
  
  ' Copy Access/User Table Properties.
    For P1 = T.Properties.Count To SourceTableDef.Properties.Count - 1
      Set SP = SourceTableDef.Properties(P1)
      Set P = T.CreateProperty(SP.Name, SP.Type)
      P.Value = SP.Value
      T.Properties.Append P
    Next P1
    
  ' Copy Access/User Field Properties.
    For f1 = 0 To T.Fields.Count - 1
      Set SF = SourceTableDef.Fields(f1)
      Set F = T.Fields(f1)
      For P1 = F.Properties.Count To SF.Properties.Count - 1
        Set SP = SF.Properties(P1)
        Set P = F.CreateProperty(SP.Name, SP.Type)
        P.Value = SP.Value
        F.Properties.Append P
      Next P1
    Next f1
    
  ' Copy Access/User Index Properties.
    For I1 = 0 To T.Indexes.Count - 1
      Set SI = SourceTableDef.Indexes(T.Indexes(I1).Name)
      
      ' Do not copy foreign indexes. They are created by relationships.
      If Not SI.Foreign Then
        Set I = T.Indexes(I1)
        For P1 = I.Properties.Count To SI.Properties.Count - 1
          Set SP = SI.Properties(P1)
          Set P = I.CreateProperty(SP.Name, SP.Type)
          P.Value = SP.Value
          I.Properties.Append P
        Next P1
      End If
    Next I1
  CopyTableDef = True
End Function

Function AppendRecordsFromOneRecordSetToAnother(SR As DAO.Recordset, DR As DAO.Recordset)
Dim x As Integer

Do While Not SR.EOF
DR.AddNew
    For x = 0 To SR.Fields.Count - 1
        DR(x).Value = SR(x).Value
    Next x
DR.Update
SR.MoveNext
Loop
End Function

Note The code will try to import all tables from the corrupted database into a backup database. Replace the variables in the table after step 10 with your database file locations and your user settings.

In the list of functions, select BackupSecureDatabase.
To run the code, click Run Sub/UserForm on the Run menu.

Variable	Description
`strSecurePathToDatabase`	Location of secured database file
`strSecurePathToWorkgroupFile`	Location of workgroup file
`strSecureUser`	Secured user logon name
`strSecurePwd`	Secured user logon password
`strTempPathToDatabase`	Location of temporary database file
`strBackupPathToDatabase`	Location of backup database file
`strLogPath`	Location of log file

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to troubleshoot corruption in a Microsoft Access database, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306204 How to troubleshoot corruption in a Microsoft Access database

Additional query words: ACC2000 ACC2002 ACC2003 ACC2007

Keywords: kbinfo kbtshoot kbimport kbconversion kbprb kbcorrupt KB888634

Microsoft KB Archive/888634

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