FAQ #: 6
Error 9800 - Corrupt File Errors; all errors beginning with 98

Errors beginning with 98, corrupt file errors, occur when Answers is trying to write new records into the file and the process is stopped abnormally. They are most likely to occur when you have sudden power outages, a PC that loses it's connection to the network, PC's that shut down suddenly, etc.

When you have a corrupt file, Answers will normally prompt you to recover the file. It will guide you through the process of "rebuilding" the file. Normally you need to have all users off the system when you rebuild a corrupt file.

If you receive a "255 unknown rebuild error" or "File is in Use and Cannot be Fully Checked" Error during the rebuild process, then you need to verify that all users are logged off the system. If you continue to receive this error when trying to rebuild the corrupt file, then reboot your server and allow one PC to log back in and try the rebuild. Sometimes, if there was a power outtage, the PC may not show the user logged in to any Answers programs, but, Windows still thinks the file is in use. Rebooting the server will give you a clean system and clear all the users from the files so that you may rebuild it.

Typically, the rebuild of the file is successful and only takes a few minutes. In a few, rare cases where the file is actually corrupt and cannot be rebuilt, you may receive a message that records are going to be lost. If this is the case, please contact Data Resources Corporation so that we can help you attempt other recovery procedures to see if the file can successfully be rebuilt without losing any data records.