DOCUMENT:Q87688 23-MAR-2001 [foxpro] TITLE :PRB: "Not a Database File" Error Using a Database File PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro PROD/VER::2.0,2.5,2.5a,3.0,3.0b,5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kberrmsg ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.