How to Recover Your Corrupt SQL Server Databases Efficiently

Incidents of database corruption can occur occasionally in just about any firm running the SQL Server application. In this article, we will try to figure out the key issues that contribute to the corruption of SQL Server databases and look at recovering them with the sophisticated DataNumen SQL Recovery application.

In a data driven world, the relevance of RDBMS applications has grown manifold. It has fueled a growth cycle for nearly all popular RDBMS applications in vogue today with MS SQL Server notching up an impressive market share. It’s especially popular with midsized firms who often look for a mix of performance and value. 

The popularity of the SQL Server application can be attributed to several reasons including fast performance, capacity to integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft solutions and an overall relative low cost of ownership. Its range of business intelligence features, support for languages like R and Python and impressive visualization on mobile devices have added to its repute.

Today the SQL Server application finds use across organizations of different sizes. From some of the largest organizations to growing small businesses are running this versatile platform to meet their database needs. However, such a variety in the user base often increases the chances of incidents of database corruption, especially in organizations that are short in technical manpower. That said, corruption in SQL Server databases can occur in the biggest enterprises which implement the best practices of database design and management. 

Possible Causes Behind Corruption of SQL Databases 

A SQL Server database can get corrupted due to a variety of reasons and we have tried to mention a few of them here. 

To start with, software issues are one the most common reasons behind the corruption of SQL Server databases. These include mundane issues like header corruption which is commonly noticed to somewhat rarer incidents of corruption attributable to the SQL Server application itself. Changes in SQL account, resource conflicts too can introduce errors in the underlying database file. In rare cases, a virus attack or malicious malware targeted at your organization can run havoc on your database files. In some of these cases even after the virus has been eradicated, the database files may still remain messed up. 

Issues related to bad database design and version conflicts too can cause corruption in database files. Incidents of database corruption are occasionally reported by many firms when they are upgrading from an older version to a newer edition of the SQL Server application. 

A host of hardware issues can also cause the corruption of your SQL Server database files. Hard drive failures are one of the most common causes behind incidents of SQL corruption in small firms. In many small firms, the SQL instance is run without the necessary redundancy options beings exercised and this can put all your databases in jeopardy. 

Bad sectors developing in hard drives is another common cause that can lead to incidents of SQL corruption. One must note that a bad sector can either be a physical bad sector or a logical bad sector. If your hard drive has a logical error, it can be easily repaired and SQL data present on it can be retrieved effortlessly with a powerful tool. However physical bad sectors can be a bit tricky to handle especially if natural wear and tear have caused it. In case you suspect a physical bad sector developing on your hard drive hosting the SQL Server application, you should immediately consider recovering its contents and moving it on to a new hard drive. 

Avoid Common Mistakes After an Incident of Database Corruption 

Once an incident of database corruption has been noticed on SQL Server, some administrators try to perform certain tasks hoping to rectify the corrupt database. These may include clearing the procedure cache or restarting the SQL Server application. Similarly, opting to perform a restore option from the backup will most certainly lead to loss of data stored since the last backup. It is critical to avoid performing actions that just delay the problem and look to resolve the issue by running a powerful recovery tool. 

Run the DataNumen SQL Recovery Application to Recover Corrupt SQL Server Databases Efficiently

If you have a corrupted SQL Server database file at hand, you should immediately get hold of the powerful DataNumen SQL Recovery application. Just launch the application and you will be greeted with an intuitive screen where you will get the option to select the corrupted database file. Just select the compromised file and keep the file format as auto-determined. The application will automatically showcase an output file name and path. You can choose to enter your custom output file name and path if needed. Once set just click on the Start Recovery button to initiate the recovery process. You would need to enter the database name and login credentials for your SQL Server application to complete the recovery.  Once the content of the compromised database is completely extracted and stored in the output file, you can open it in a normal fashion using SQL Server Management Studio. The recovery process is typically completed in quick time and the application maintains complete data integrity.

The DataNumen SQL Recovery application offers an array of intelligent features which makes it rather useful for organizations running the SQL Server application. For starters, it allows you to recover multiple corrupted database files in one go using its efficacious Batch Recovery mode. Next, it also allows you to recover accidentally deleted records by scanning through temporary database files. It also allows you to recover humungous MDF files ranging up to 16TB in size with minimum fuss. While it is rich in features, the application is also rather easy to use and offers support for drag and drop operations and even command line parameters. The tool is an excellent companion for organizations of all sizes as it provides you with a critical layer of protection against data loss arising due to SQL corruption. For small firms where technical expertise is in short supply, the application can prove to be a lifesaver and quickly bring back the compromised data in quick time. The best part, if you are running multiple instances of the SQL Server application, you can choose to go with a volume license option of this remarkable recovery tool, which is available at discounted prices.