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Q87688: PRB: "Not a Database File" Error Using a Database File

Article: Q87688
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 2.0,2.5,2.5a,3.0,3.0b,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg
Last Modified: 23-MAR-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, 2.5a 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a 
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Attempting to open a database file in Microsoft FoxPro fails with either a

  "Not a database file"

or a

  "Not a Table"

error message.

CAUSE
=====

The database file header has been corrupted.

RESOLUTION
==========

Even though FoxPro includes no method to rebuild the damaged database header,
several third-party database-recovery utilities are available. Some utilities
are listed below.

MORE INFORMATION
================

For information about performing table maintenance using FoxPro low-level file
functions, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q135905 How to Retrieve Records that were Previously Zapped

The following list of database-recovery utilities is provided for your
convenience. Products are listed in alphabetical order by product name. None of
the products on the list is recommended over any other, nor over products not on
the list. Please notify us of any additions, updates, or corrections to the
list.

These utilities are supported by the third-party developers that wrote the
utilities, not by Microsoft. The utilities on the list below have not been
tested by Microsoft. The products included here are manufactured by vendors
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding
these products' performance or reliability.

  dSalvage
  Comtech Publishing, Limited
  P.O. Box 12340
  Reno, NV 89510
  Phone: (702) 825-9000

  DTools
  EL Software
  3809 Plaza Drive, #107-360
  Oceanside, CA 92056
  Phone: (619) 439-6617
  Fax: (619) 439-9612

  HeadFix or QuickFix-2
  Hilco Software
  11266 Barnett Valley Road
  Sepastopol, CA 95472-9555
  Phone: (707) 829-5011
  Fax: (707) 829-5710

  MemoPlus
  Rory Data International
  17 Thornburn Road
  North Potomac, MD 20878
  Phone: (301) 251-0497
  Fax: (301) 258-6862

  Recover 2.0
  Abri Technologies
  HC 62, Box 100K
  Great Cacapon, WV USA 25422
  Phone: (304) 947-7129
  Fax: (304) 947-7628
  Web site: http:\\www.abri.com
  CompuServe: FoxForum/VFox libraries


Additional query words: data corrupt damaged salvage dbfix norton 3rd third party list listing errmsg err msg not a table/dbf

======================================================================
Keywords          : kberrmsg 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbFoxPro200DOS kbFoxPro250DOS kbFoxPro250aDOS kbFoxPro250 kbFoxPro250a kbVFP300bMac kbVFP300 kbVFP500
Version           : :2.0,2.5,2.5a,3.0,3.0b,5.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

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