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SQL Server Database Recovery

Most companies use relational database management system (RDBMS) and store their data in SQL databases. What happens if after rebooting the server the database doesn't attach and your backup is corrupt, incomplete or outdated?

Have you ever had a drive containing SQL data crash and the files were recovered by a data recovery company but the SQL database is corrupted? One unreadable sector inside a SQL database will not allow the file to attach. First Advantage's team of data recovery specialist's can expertly assist you in the instances to recover your data.

SQL recovery

  from drive failures, more often than not, a two-stage process. First, the physical data (raw sectors) must be recovered in order to gain access to the logical data. If the database will not attach to SQL server, then the second stage is SQL recovery.

Media in database servers suffer from the same failure as drives in personal computers. Even the best configured system can fail due to:

• Corrupted database
• Torn page detection
• Deleted data (tables, records, systems objects)
• I/O error in SQL server
• Deleted or corrupted log file
• Database in "suspected" mode
• Unable to restore from corrupted backup file

Is it possible to recover?
In most cases it is possible to repair the database to an attachable state. If the

data recovery

  specialists are unable to repair the database to a point to where it will attach, then the specialist will recover as many tables and records as possible for you with First Advantages' specialized recovery software tools. This recovered data can then be merged back into an empty database that your front end will work with.

Getting Started
If the failure mechanism is hardware or file system corruption, then the recovery specialists would require the original media to be sent to First Advantage data recovery. This is because file fragmentation can scatter pieces of the database and log file all over the media. These pieces must be collected and reassembled so we can start our analysis. If the database was corrupted by some other means then a copy on any media will do.

What can you do to help?
Third party SQL recovery and utility programs can cause damage beyond our ability to recover the files so it is best if clients don't attempt recovery with such programs with the original files. For database repair and/or scavenging, it will save time if you can furnish First Advantage with the database structure (perhaps an empty database or backup) and a list of prioritized tables.

After determining what steps will be necessary to complete your recovery, First Advantage will contact you for approval. No work will be done without your consent. As soon as you approve the recovery, our recovery specialist will continue with the recovery effort by analyzing the database and records, extracting the data and rebuilding the database.

Click here to request further information about First Advantage's SQL Data Recovery capabilities.