How to Repair SQL Server Database Files?

  author
Rollins Duke   
Published: March 27th, 2024 • 8 Min Read

repair SQL database

Several Microsoft SQL users search for a solution to repair SQL Server database files like repairing corrupted MDF files or NDF files. If you are also one of them then this writeup will assist you with the techniques to fix SQL database corruption and damage errors.

This dedicated article has depth information about multiple methods to repair corrupted SQL database without data loss using freeware and professional solutions. But before starting the steps to repair damaged SQL database. Read some queries that are recently faced via Microsoft SQL Server users.

User Queries to Repair Corrupted SQL Database

In my organization, we are using Microsoft SQL Server 2016 edition for the past few years. But recently, SQL database got damaged and stopped working. Now, I am unable to accept online orders for my grocery business. I faced this problem first time; I tried to repair SQL Server database using DBCC CHECKDB command. But I am unable to fix corrupted SQL database. Please suggest me any solution as I want to repair damaged SQL database anyhow.

Hi BitRecover, please save my online business, I am the owner of a medium-sized IT company. Here, we setup SQL server for completing our online automation tasks such as product delivery, payment status, user registration, etc. A few days ago SQL Server got crashed and now I am unable to run any manual commands to repair SQL database corruption. Hence, I have connected to BitRecover support to fix SQL database consistency errors.

What Are SQL Server Database Corruption Causes?

  • The storage drive is near to full where MDF (Master Database File) is stored.
  • Tried to manipulate added information in SQL Server account.
  • Sudden power failure and SQL server is stopped in a bad way.
  • Bugs in SQL database as well as in installed programs.
  • Accidentally deletion of SQL server data and components.
  • Corruption in SQL server database headers.
  • Hardware failure while SQL database is in working condition.
  • Virus attack on your computer and server where SQL Server hosted.
  • Tried to update SQL server from old to the latest edition.

How to Fix Corrupted SQL Database?

There are several manuals and professional solutions available to repair SQL database corruption errors. Here we are mentioning various best possible ways to fix & repair corrupted SQL database to continue managing automated SQL database transactions.

#1 Method: Repair SQL Server Database Using Backup

  1. Run “SQL Server Management Studio” (SSMS) on your computer.
  2. Thereafter, select “Object Explorer” and expand databases folder.
  3. Choose a SQL database that you want to repair, right-click on it, and choose the “Restore Database” option.
  4. Under Source for the restore section, choose the “From Device” option and press the “Browse” button.
  5. After that, select “Backup media type”, and press the “Add” button to continue.
  6. Choose a Backup File that you want to restore and hit on the “Ok” button.
  7. The backup file is listed on the Database restore window.
  8. From Restore Database Wizard choose Select a page, and Select Options.
  9. Under the restore options, select one of the checkboxes, and press the “Ok” button.

Note: Just follow the above-mentioned steps to repair SQL server database using SQL Server Management Studio. If this technique is unable to fix SQL database errors, then also learn another way for restoring corrupt SQL database.

#2 Method: Repair Corrupted SQL Database Using DBCC CHECKDB

First, open SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) and follow the entire below-mentioned steps. Note That: here we are using BitRecover as database_name, hence you need to mention your database name instead of BitRecover.

Complete 5 simple steps to repair SQL database with DBCC CHECKDB:

  1. Set SQL Server database to emergency mode.
  2. Check SQL server database errors using DBCC CHECKDB.
  3. Set SQL database as single-user mode.
  4. Fix SQL server database corruption.
  5. Set SQL Server Database as multi-user mode.

Using these 5 simple steps, anyone can easily repair SQL server database. If you want to read these steps in detail, then keep continue reading this article.

1 Phase: Set SQL Database to Emergency Mode

First, this is mandatory to change the database status to Emergency Mode. That provides read-only access for SQL administrators. Run the mentioned command using SSMS.

ALTER DATABASE [BitRecover] SET EMERGENCY

2 Phase: Check for SQL Database Corruption Errors

Administrators can use the below-mentioned command for analyzing corruption errors in SQL database

DBCC CHECKDB (BitRecover)

Thereafter, if you found any errors then it will also recommend suggestions to repair SQL master database corruption errors.

3 Phase: Set SQL Database as SINGLE_USER Mode

Now, this is advisable to put corrupted SQL database files into SINGLE_USER mode to stop other users from doing any operations during the repair SQL Server database process. Follow the mentioned steps for completing the phase 3 steps.

Open SSMS and perform the below-mentioned steps to set a corrupted database to SINGLE_USER mode.

Right-click on damaged SQL database that you want to restore and hit on “Properties”.

Under “Database Properties” select the page like Options and see details.

Thereafter, choose State << Restrict Access option. Select SINGLE_USER and press the “Ok” button to continue.

4 Phase: Fix SQL Database Corruption

After successfully setting SINGLE_USER mode, start DBCC CHECKDB command to fix SQL database error.

DBCC CHECKDB (N ’BitRecover’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS, NO_INFOMSGS;

GO

This REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS SQL Repair database command is capable to repair only reported SQL Server database errors. Hence, this is not considered as the number one solution to repair SQL database.

5 Phase: Set SQL Server Database as MULTI_USER Mode

After successfully repairing SQL database using DBCC CHECKDB, you need to set SQL Database to MULTI_USER mode using the mentioned command.

ALTER DATABASE BitRecover SET MULTI_USER

#3 Method: Repair Damaged SQL Database Using Software

BitRecover SQL Recovery Tool is expert-recommended software to repair SQL Server databases easily. The tool is capable to fix corrupted SQL databases from MDF as well as NDF database file types. The tool can easily repair Microsoft SQL Server database 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008, etc versions.

How to Fix Corrupted SQL Database – Steps
  1. Launch the suggested software on your computer. Select the Open button for uploading a damaged SQL Server database file.
    upload SQL database
  2. Thereafter, select Quick Scan or Advance Scan mode according to choice and press the Ok button.
    quick scan mode
  3. The damaged SQL scanning process has been completed, now see database details in software panel.
    quick scan report
  4. After that, users can see the restored data with attributes under the software GUI.
    Repair SQL Server Database
  5. Now press Export and choose an export option i.e., Export as SQL Server Database, Export as SQL Server Compatible Script, and Export as CSV with database tables.
    Fix SQL Database Corruption
Benefits of Software to Repair Corrupted SQL Database
  • Repair SQL Server database by restoring its complete attributes such as Tables, Triggers, Indexes, Keys, Functions, Rules, and Stored Procedures.
  • Dual (Quick and Advance) scanning modes are available for scanning files. Advance scanning mode is capable to repair SQL Server database deleted items.
  • The tool permits to repair SQL database without using DBCC CHECKDB or another manual command.
  • Fix corrupted SQL databases and export them into healthy live SQL Server database or SQL Server Compatible scripts.
  • Repair damaged SQL database from both MDF (Master Database Files) or NDF Secondary Database files.
  • Fix SQL database consistency errors as it supports SQL databases created with SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1: Does your software allow to repair SQL Server 2019 database?

A: Yes, this utility is a proficient solution to repair SQL Server 2019 database without losing any crucial information. Even our developers are upgrading it to fix SQL database corruption from 2021 edition.

Q 2: Is it possible to repair SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014 emergency mode?

A: Yes, of course! This application is authorized to repair SQL database emergency, suspect, and pending state modes.

Q 3: How do I how to repair SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, etc using DBCC CHECKDB?

A: You need to follow above mentioned 5 phases including specified steps to repair SQL server database using various ways like DBCC CHECKDB. If this command is unable to fix SQL database consistency errors, then you should go with the suggested application.

Q 4: Can I repair corrupted SQL server database and recover deleted items?

A: Yes, this is an excellent program to repair corrupted SQL Server database. Even users can choose “Advance Scan Mode” to restore delete SQL database items.

Conclusion

Here, we have discussed the top 3 ways to repair SQL database. Thus, first, try to fix SQL database corruption error-free of cost using DBCC CHECKDB command or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) methods. If these manual techniques failed then go with a smart solution for resolving your problem.

Recommended: Best Technique to Repair Corrupted MDF Files