How to Recover SQL Database from Suspect Mode and Fix It?

  author
Rollins Duke   
Published: May 10th, 2024 • 5 Min Read

Sometimes SQL Database administrators (DBAs) may face problems while accessing databases due to suspect mode. Then users start searching for a solution to recover SQL database from suspect mode to normal mode. This is true if the SQL database goes to suspect mode, then it becomes inaccessible. In this situation, users cannot do any operations in the SQL database that may affect the business revenues.

As we all know that SQL (Structured Query Language) is a relational database management system that use to implement automation transaction-related tasks. DBAs use SQL Server to create new databases and manipulate databases. Thus, users instantly want to fix the SQL Server database suspect mode error.

If your SQL database goes to the suspect mode and you want to know how to resolve suspect database in SQL server. Then continue reading this informative article as this write-up explains the steps and possibilities to recover suspect database in SQL Server. But first, know some reasons behind SQL suspect mode error.

recover suspect database in SQL server

Causes for Database Suspect Mode in SQL Server

There are multiple factors that become the reasons for going to SQL Server database suspect mode.

  • SQL database files (MDF and NDF) got damaged or missing due to any reason like a ransomware attack.
  • If your computer hard drive has bad sectors where the Microsoft SQL Server database is stored or managed.
  • SQL database operation failure may also become a reason for SQL Server suspect mode.
  • MS SQL Server got crashed due to improper system shutdown and power failure.
  • If your hard drive is near full and low storage space available to save and manage new entries.
  • In case of SQL database resources are unavailable or deleted due to a virus attack on the system.

How to Recover Suspect Database in SQL Server?

Read This First: If you have a well-known backup available then you can also try to recover suspect database in SQL Server. But if the backup is not available then follow the below-mentioned steps to fix SQL server suspect database.

1 Step: Start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect it to a database.

sql server management studio

2 Step: Thereafter, click on the New Query option for opening the Query editor.

new query

3 Steps: Enter following script code to remove the suspect flag and set it to EMERGENCY.
EXEC sp_resetstatus ‘db_name’;

ALTER DATABASE db_name SET EMERGENCY

4 Step: After that run the DBCC CHECKDB command to check SQL database is corrupted or not corrupted.

DBCC CHECKDB (‘database_name’)

Note: This step assists you with errors in the SQL database. Thereafter you can try to repair SQL server database for resolving minimum-level corruptions.

5 Step: Now you need to set database to single-user mode to prevent other users from making any changes in database.

ALTER DATABASE database_name SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE

6 Step: Now take a complete backup of the database as it may become the reason for data loss.

7 Step: Execute the following command to repair suspect database in SQL Server.

DBCC CHECKDB (‘database_name’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS)

8 Step: Alter database from Single User to Multi-User mode.

ALTER DATABASE database_name SET MULTI_USER

Note That: After completing these steps, you need to refresh the SQL database server. Thereafter, hope, you will be able to connect to the database. If in case you are getting some data missing then use extra backup as we have suggested in step 6.

Alternative to Fix SQL Server Suspect Database Error

SQL Database Recovery Software by BitRecover is a perfect solution to fix the SQL server database suspect mode error. This tool can recover SQL database from suspect state with multiple advance features. SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2005, and 2000 version administrators can use it with ease.

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How to Resolve Suspect Database in SQL Server?

  1. Start the suggested application on your machine and press Open.
    press open
  2. Upload the MDF file in GUI and choose Advance Scan mode for deep scanning.
    advance scan
  3. Database scanning is running to fix SQL server suspect database.
    quick scan report
  4. See restored tables, views, stored procedures, rules, triggers, and functions.
    recover SQL database from suspect mode
  5. Now press Export and set where you want to export your SQL data.
    fix SQL server suspect database
  6. Click on the Export button to save recovered SQL objects from suspect mode.
    how to resolve suspect database in sql server

The Closure

We have discussed the most popular and commonly used tips to recover SQL database from suspect mode. Most of the time, manual method can fix the SQL server database suspect mode error. But in some cases, it may not be workable. Hence, this is advisable to go with an alternative solution if the manual method got failure.

Recommended: Best Techniques to Repair Corrupt MDF Files in SQL Server