Resolving Lotus Notes Client Error: 'Database is corrupt'

IBM Lotus Notes is the desktop client option that can be used for e-mailing, instant messaging, calendaring, contact management, etc. and to access local and server (Domino Server) applications and data. The standard container for data in Notes architecture is NSF or Notes Storage Facility. These files contain 'notes' as the basic unit of data storage. 'Notes' can get inaccessible and unreadable for many reasons, including NSF file corruption. NSF files are regarded as local databases and require NSF File Recovery on getting corrupted. Following is one of the possible scenarios and a frequently occurring error message that indicates that the local database of Lotus Notes is corrupt.

Suppose you use Lotus Notes for important e-mail conversation with your business clients. But one day, when you try to open one of the relevant NSF file created within Lotus client, it doesn't behave as expected. The file cannot be opened and on each attempt of opening the file, it gives the below error message:

“Database is corrupt -- cannot allocate space”

Similar error can occur on trying to close the database.

Cause

Among other reasons, the most probable reason for the above error to occur is corruption of NSF file of Lotus Notes client.

Solution

Corrupted local databases of Lotus Notes can be repaired using 'command prompt' versions of server database maintenance tools- 'Fixup', 'Updall', and 'Compact'. Their local versions are named as nfixup.exe, nupdall.exe and ncompact.exe. If not available, you can copy nfixup and ncompact from Domino folder to LotusNotes folder and then run using the below set of commands from command prompt on desktop computer:

nfixup c:lotusnotesdata(filename)
nupdall -r c:lotusnotesdata(filename)
ncompact c:lotusnotesdata(filename)

You may be prompted to enter the Lotus Notes password to run these commands. Also, keep in mind to backup the file in issue to avoid any post consequences.

In case, the above utilities fail to repair the corrupted NSF file, you need to use a third-party Lotus Notes Recovery software. NSF File Recovery tools are high-end programs designed to scan and repair corrupted Lotus Notes NSF files with effective algorithms.

Stellar Phoenix Lotus Notes Recovery is a comprehensive solution that can repair corrupted Lotus Notes files created with Lotus Notes 6.x and 7.x. This Lotus Notes Recovery tool can restore all e-mails, attachments, calendars, contacts, and other objects. It is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT4 (SP6). Visit - http://www.stellarservertools.com/lotus-notes-recovery.php

Fixing “Server error: file is in use by another program” Error

Are you encountering an error message when you attempt to access the data (e-mails, calendar, contacts, shared documents, and more) saved in NSF files? If the answer is 'yes', then in most cases your NSF file is corrupted or damaged. Few main causes for NSF file damage are virus infection, application malfunction, and operating system corruption. An ideal way to overcome NSF file corruption error message is by restoring the file from an updated backup. However, if the backup file is unavailable, then you need to execute three ('Fixup', 'Updall', and 'Compact') server maintenance tools. However, if these tools also fail to repair a logically damaged NSF file, then you will need to opt for an effective third-party NSF File Recovery software. Below is one such such scenario that explains NSF file corruption and its repair.

You use Lotus Notes as your desktop client and have created a NSF file that stores critical information related to your clients. The file was working as expected, until one day you encountered the underneath error message:

“Server error: file is in use by another program”

After the above error message appears, the file could not be opened and the data saved in NSF file can not be accessed. In addition, the same error message appears every time you attempt to access the NSF file.

Cause:

The root cause for the occurrence of above error message is corruption in NSF file.

Resolution:

To resolve the above error message and to access the data saved in the NSF file, you will need to run the underneath set of commands on the command prompt:

nfixup c:lotusnotesdata(filename)
nupdall -r c:lotusnotesdata(filename)
ncompact c:lotusnotesdata(filename)

While in most cases, the above steps resolve the error message and make the NSF file accessible, there are certain situations when these steps fail to resolve the problem. In such cases, you need to restore the file from an updated backup. But, in the absence of a valid backup, you will need to repair the file by using an effective third-party NSF File Recovery application. Such Lotus Notes Recovery tools scan, repair and restore the NSF file, irrespective of the reason for its logical damage.

Stellar Phoenix Lotus Notes Recovery repairs corrupted NSF files created in Lotus Notes 6.x and 7.x applications. The read-only Lotus Notes Recovery software is competent enough to restore almost all NSF file objects, including e-mails, attachments, and calendars. It is designed for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT4 (SP6). Visit - http://www.stellarservertools.com/lotus-notes-recovery.php

Resolving “Error compacting Mail *.nsf...” Error in IBM Lotus Notes

Lotus Notes is a popular email client and personal information manager, developed and marketed by IBM Software Group. It is an integrated desktop client program that is used to access valuable emails, applications, and calendars on IBM Lotus Domino server. It stores all your significant data in NSF (Notes Storage File) database. You can specify the size of NSF file as per your requirement. If the size of NSF file approaches specified limit, you should compact the database to prevent database corruption and need of NSF file Recovery solutions.

Compacting a Lotus Notes database recovers unused disk space so that it can function more efficiently. The database can be compacted if it is using simple encryption. When the database is compacted, Lotus Notes might need to create a impermanent copy of the database, depending upon required internal structural modifications. To enable this possibility, you should have sufficient space on hard drive for storing temporary database during the course.

You can compact your Lotus Notes database file using the below steps:

(1) Open your Notes Storage File or NSF database.

(2) Go to Database on the File menu and the select Properties.

(3) Click Info tab in the properties window.

(4) Click the % to find out the percentage in use.

(5) When the percentage of the database in use goes under 90% (mean it has more than 10 percent of unused disk space), click the Compact button for compacting your Lotus Notes database.

However, in some situations, the compaction process can not complete successfully. When you try to compact the Lotus Notes database, you may come across the below given error message:

“Error compacting Mail *.nsf: Database is corrupt -- Cannot allocate space”

After this error, compaction process gets terminated.

Cause

As stated in the above error message, the problem occurs due to corruption of the NSF file. Corruption may occur due to numerous reasons, such as virus infection, improper system shutdown, application malfunction, and more.

Resolution

In order to sort out this problem and perform NSF File Recovery, you need to repair and restore the damaged NSF file. You can quickly and effectively repair the damaged NSF file using third-party applications, which Repair NSF File in all cases of corruption.

The software are quite easy to use with interactive user interface and thus do not demand sound technical skills. They Repair Lotus Notes database in a safe way owing to their read-only and non-destructive conduct.

Stellar Phoenix Lotus Notes Recovery software repairs and restores damaged NSF file in all cases of corruption. The software works well with IBM Lotus Notes 7.x and 6.x. It effectively restores all NSF file objects, such as emails, contacts, attachments, to-do, calendar entries, journals, and personal address boot templates.

How to Repair a Corrupted Lotus Notes (NSF) File?

IBM Lotus Notes is the client side of collaborative, client-server application by IBM. This is an integrated desktop client that enables connecting and collaborating with IBM Lotus Domino Server and accessing business e-mails, applications, and calendars. In Notes architecture, the standard container for data storage is NSF (Notes Storage File). Just like any other application, the files of Lotus Notes can also get corrupt and thus cannot be accessed. For the reason that NSF files often contain business crucial data, having a Lotus Notes Recovery tool that can repair and restore the corrupted notes becomes inevitable.

Problems that commonly occur with Lotus Notes client and can corrupt database file are:

(1) Unexpected power failure

(2) Corruption in the header of NSF file

(3) Application issues

(4) Virus infection

(5) Interaction with a incompatible program

(6) Operating system problems

(7) Checksum mismatch

Lotus Notes is used as an end-user e-mail client in organizations and since it is collaborative in nature, there are a wide number of areas for its implementation. However, NSF files are susceptible to corruption and data loss is likely to occur due to above reasons.

You are prompted about corruption in Lotus Notes files with an error message. When corrupted, these files when accessed or opened can produce any of the following or some similar error messages:

(1) Error compacting Mail\x\xxx.nsf: Database is corrupt.

(2) NSFDbOpen: File 'file_name.nsf' is CORRUPT - Now Read-Only!

(3) Database is corrupt -- cannot allocate space

If corruption is minor, you can try compacting the database to resolve most of such issues. However, in cases when corruption has been extensive, you can delete corrupted NSF file, provided a good backup of all required e-mails is available.

To get you data back in cases of backup unavailability, you should run a third-party NSF File Recovery utility. These are specialized products designed to scan a corrupted Lotus Notes file and restore original data at a safe location. Lotus Notes Recovery software are easy-to-use tools with well-documented procedures.

For secure and complete data retrieval, use Stellar Phoenix Lotus Notes Recovery software. This is a simple, and highly interactive utility with powerful NSF File Recovery features. Supporting Lotus Notes 6.x and 7.x, this utility can restore all e-mails, calendar entries, journals, to-dos, attachments, and other file objects.