Question

Can't open or delete an MDB file.

Asked by: Ldufresne19

I have a MS Access 2000 MDB file that I wish to delete from a subdirectory and no matter what I do I cannot delete or move it. I have tried the following:

1. Verified that the file properties were not marked Read-Only.
2. I tried to move it to another subdirectory
3  Compact and repair the file
4. Open the file

I am using windows XP 2000, SP2 and logged in as administrator.

Each time I try to do one of the above to get rid of the file I get a message that the file is in use or Access denied or can't find the database.

The can't find error message will state that MS Access can't find the database and list itself as the database that it can't find. But file manager says it has 3,888 KB in it.

This file is on a stand alone PC, and not linked to any other database.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of the file?

Lou

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Asked On
2005-08-21 at 10:31:33ID21534569
Tags

access

,

delete

,

file

,

mdb

Topic

Microsoft Access Database

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: thenelsonPosted on 2005-08-21 at 10:52:06ID: 14719701

If there is a file with the same name with an .ldb extension, delete it first.  If you can't delete the .ldb file, reboot then delete it and the mdb.  If there is no .ldb file, delete the mdb file from safe mode (keep pressing F8 when the computer first reboots.)

 

by: jkorzPosted on 2005-08-21 at 11:05:29ID: 14719745

make sure you don't have any odbc dsn's pointing to it

disable or unplug your network connection, wait a min or 2 and try to delete it

If those don't work, go into the permissions for the file (assuming that by xp 2000 you mean xp pro... hehe) and uncheck the box that inherits rights. After that, delete every other account with access to the file except yours and make sure yours has full rights. You should also take ownership if you do not have it already. This will make sure that no other account is allowed to access the file but you and hence it can't possibly be in use. So restart the comp in safe mode and try to delete it.

 

by: Ldufresne19Posted on 2005-09-06 at 20:57:35ID: 14833886

Sorry it took so long to get back to both of you. jkorz's answer worked perfectly. thenelson's suggestion would have worked but there was no .ldb file left open.

Thanks again for both suggestions

Lou

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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