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

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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

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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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PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
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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.