MS Access cannot 'Compact and Repair database' and 'Save As'

Question

I am not sure what happened with my MS Access.

I had a new machine and when I first opened MS Access, everything works perfectly.

This morning when I worked on it, I suddenly cannot  'Compact and Repair Database' nor 'Save As' my file. 

Apparently it also happens even when I created a new blank database.

The following pop up shows when I run 'Compact and Repair Database'

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/2f49edb8-6589-4a41-bec9-eb6565fe68cd?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/f38af902-1ee4-4138-8114-1c36c8c909ba?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">

I am the only user of this machine and I have tried to remove permission to the file.

Answer 1

Hi Alexander,

Based on your description, when you try to 'Compact and Repair database' and 'Save As' a file, errors will pop up.

Here are some suggestions, and I hope they can help you:

1. Close all of your MS Access files. Open task manager (by right click on task bar). Select Processes tab in that. If the list has a MS Access process close that by clicking on End Process.
2. Right-click the file to check whether you have the Full Control permissions to the file.
3. Clear the Compact On Close check box at File -> Options -> Current Database –> Application Options.
4. Clear the Perform Name AutoCorrect check box at File -> Options -> Current Database-> Name AutoCorrect Options.
5. If you have macros in this file, please try to remove embedded macros from the form, or report and replace them with either named macros or VBA event procedures.
6. Although you mentioned that you are the only user of the device, you can still try to use the split database approach to check the result. For more information, see Split an Access database.

If the problem persists, could you please provide some information for me?

1. The screenshot of the Access product information, you can go File -> Account -> capture a screenshot of the Product Information column.
2. If you create a new file, will the same problem happen? If the problem not happen on the new created file, please try to copy the content from the problematic file to the new created one to check the result.

Best regards,

Jazlyn

Answer 2

Hi Alexander,

If you still need further support, please do not hesitate to reply to me.

Best regards,

Jazlyn

Answer 3

It could be that there is a hidden instance of Access running. Reboot your machine and try again.

Of course you are smart and keep good backups, just in case.