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Description

This error indicates that MySQL cannot access or read the index (key) file for a specified table. It typically occurs when the table's index file has become corrupted or damaged, often due to disk issues, improper shutdowns, or file system errors, preventing normal table operations.

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Error Message

Incorrect key file for table '%s'; try to repair it

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Disk or Storage Corruption

Physical damage or logical errors on the storage device hosting MySQL data can corrupt index files.

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Abrupt Server Termination

An unexpected shutdown of the MySQL server can leave table and index files in an inconsistent, unreadable state.

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File System Errors

Inconsistencies or damage within the operating system's file system can directly affect the integrity of MySQL's data files.

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Hardware Malfunction

Faulty hardware, such as RAM or disk controllers, can introduce data corruption during read/write operations.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Quick Repair with REPAIR TABLE easy

Attempt an immediate repair of the corrupted table.

1

Connect to your MySQL server using the command-line client or a GUI tool.

2

Execute the REPAIR TABLE command for the affected table.

REPAIR TABLE your_table_name;

3

If the table is a MyISAM table, you might need to specify the repair type. For example, to check and repair:

REPAIR TABLE your_table_name USE_FRM;

4

After the repair, try accessing the table again to see if the error is resolved.

2. Check and Repair with mysqlcheck medium

Utilize the mysqlcheck utility for a more comprehensive check and repair.

1

Open a terminal or command prompt on the server where MySQL is running.

2

Execute the mysqlcheck command with the --repair and --all-databases options (or specify a single database).

# To check and repair all databases:
mysqlcheck --repair --all-databases -u root -p

# To check and repair a specific database:
mysqlcheck --repair your_database_name -u root -p

3

You will be prompted for the MySQL root password.

4

Monitor the output for any errors during the check and repair process. If successful, the corrupted key file should be fixed.

3. Table Data Dump and Recreate medium

Extract data, drop the corrupted table, and recreate it with the dumped data.

1

Connect to your MySQL server.

2

Dump the data from the corrupted table. Replace `your_database_name` and `your_table_name` accordingly.

mysqldump -u root -p your_database_name your_table_name > table_backup.sql

3

Drop the corrupted table.

DROP TABLE your_table_name;

4

Recreate the table structure. You can often get the `CREATE TABLE` statement from `SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name;` before dropping it, or by inspecting the dumped SQL file.

SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name;

5

Import the data back into the newly created table.

mysql -u root -p your_database_name < table_backup.sql

6

Verify that the table is accessible and the data is intact.

4. InnoDB Table Recovery (if applicable) advanced

For InnoDB tables, leverage its crash recovery capabilities.

1

Ensure that your MySQL server is configured to use InnoDB and that `innodb_force_recovery` is not set to a high value that prevents startup.

2

If the server is not starting due to corruption, you might need to start it with a specific `innodb_force_recovery` value. Start with 1 and increase incrementally if needed (up to 6). Consult MySQL documentation for the implications of each level.

# Example: Start MySQL with innodb_force_recovery=1
# This is typically done by modifying the my.cnf/my.ini file or via command-line options when starting mysqld.

3

Once the server is running, use `REPAIR TABLE` (as in Solution 1) or `mysqldump` (as in Solution 3) to extract and rebuild data. After successful data extraction, stop the server and remove the `innodb_force_recovery` setting.

4

Restart the MySQL server normally.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MySQL Error 1034: Corrupted Table Key File