backup history gone

  • Is there a way to recover the backup history for a database and transaction log? I inadvertently deleted the backup history while trying to restore and recover in a Full Recovery model. I need to do a "point-in-time" restore of the log.

    I still have copies of the mdf and ldf as they were before the process began. I also have nightly backup and transaction log backup.

    I have msdb and master backups and their log backups from nightly backup.

    When I deleted the history, the date modified on the msdb.mdf did not change for some reason. Neither did the date modified on the msdb.ldf.

    Could I possibly return the backup history by restoring msdb and/or master?

    Please keep in mind that I need to do a "point-in-time" or STOPAT restore when I get to the transaction log. I only have one transaction log backup since the last database backup. It was done AFTER the data mistake. I am not doing differential backups.

    Please help!!!!

    Gerald

  • AS far as I know the restore history is in msdb and you can restore this from backup to a different database name - just so you can get at the data as I have done to recover data in the past. This way you preserve your 'pucker' msdb for that instance.

    Hope this helps

  • GeraldH,

    before you start to do any recovery, i suggest that we (everyone who is on-line and readind this post) together make a plan first, a clean steps, test on other server(s).

    xyz.

  • Thanks. It appears that there is another trans log backup happening via Veritas to a tape that I didn't know about until now. That's why I couldn't get the restore/recovery process to work. I have to wait a couple hours to speak to the person who set up that backup. My suspicion is that the Veritas backup is truncating the log. If so, I guess there's no way that my recovery will work, right?

    Gerald

  • While you are waiting, could you list your database backup time list?

  • Thanks, xyz, I really appreciate it.

    I assume you mean the following:

    **Full Recovery Model

    1) 2:00AM - full db backup to local disk

    2) 9:45AM - full db backup via Veritas to tape

    3) 9:46 AM - log backup via Veritas to tape

    4) 4:30PM - unwanted data update

    5) 4:40PM - log backup to local disk

    Gerald

  • what time you had cope of .mdf and .ldf

  • Here is a revised timeline:

    **Full Recovery Model

    1) 2:00AM - full db backup to local disk

    2) 9:45AM - full db backup via Veritas to tape

    3) 9:46 AM - log backup via Veritas to tape

    4) 4:30PM - unwanted data update

    5) 6:00PM - detach db

    6) 6:02PM - make copy of detached mdf and ldf

    7) 6:02PM - re-attach db

    5) 6:15PM - log backup to local disk

    I didn't realize the detaching and reattaching could have affected my restore/recovery process.

    Gerald

  • i guess you want go back before 4:30PM the update.

    if so, here is the plan A:

    restore your db

    from [9:45AM - full db backup via Veritas to tape]

    with recovery,

    file = ?

    or plan B:

    restore your db

    from [2:00AM - full db backup to local disk

    ]

    with recovery,

    file = ?

    if you want go back after 4:30PM, the plan C:

    1.stop server;

    2.rename current .mdf and .ldf

    3.move the copies of .mdf and ldf

    4.start server

    ** i did this way 2 years ago, i don't know it will work today.

    please let me know if i'm wrong.

    Edited by - xyz on 11/13/2003 09:08:49 AM

  • Actually, what I want is a point-in-time recovery to right before the 4:30PM incident. Do you think this is still possible?

    Gerald

  • how about this way:

    restore your db

    from [9:45AM - full db backup via Veritas to tape]

    with NOrecovery,

    file = ?

    restore your log

    from [9:46 AM - log backup via Veritas to tape]

    with NOrecovery,

    file = ?

    restore your log

    from [6:15PM - log backup to local disk

    ]

    with Recovery,

    STOPAT = '2003-mm-dd 16:29:00',

    file = ?

    i guess you did this way already without luck.

    Edited by - xyz on 11/13/2003 09:36:51 AM

  • FYI.

    PRB: Filegroup Log Restore May Fail with Error Message 4305

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;295371

  • Thanks, xyz, the backup tape did not have the log I needed. I am waiting for the previous backup tape to be retrieved. It was probably switched right after the log backup.

    Gerald

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply