Recover SQL Server Database Without Backups with This Guide

Summary: Is your SQL Server database components got corrupted or inaccessible and you don’t have the recent backup available? Then don’t worry in this article we are going to discuss how to recover SQL Server database without backup. Read this article to know more. 

Microsoft SQL Server is the most extensively used Relational database Management system. This application stores the database in MDF and NDF files. But like any other files, these files can also get damaged or SQL database corruption can occur due to sudden power failure, Virus or Malware infection, Abrupt system shutdown or hardware failure issues.  

However, in case if the users have the recent backup available then the user can easily get back the files. But the problem will arise when the SQL database users don’t have the backups available. Here, they need to know how to recover deleted database in SQL Server without backup. 

Now, in order to learn so, we did a hefty research & found all of the information that can be of some use for the users. Evidently, in the upcoming article, we will discuss the best possible ways to recover SQL server database without backup by using the manual and by using the Enterprise-grade level SysTools SQL Database recovery tool. The user can also use this application in case they have accidentally deleted their SQL database components and Table records. The user can download the demo version from here. 

Why Recovering a Deleted SQL DB Without Backup is Needed?

There are various situations that demand the users to recover SQL Server database without backup. Here we will discuss a few of them to understand the reasons more clearly.

• Backup Strategies are not set
• Corruption in the SQL Backup File
• Backup File Being Accidentally Deleted
• Due to a Hardware Crash or Disk Failure
• Ransomware or Other similar attacks in the database.

Due to these issues, it becomes crucial for the users to learn how to recover deleted database in SQL Server without backup. However, the process might be a little complex and risky for the database administrators. We will now understand the possible challenges encountered by the users during the process and also find the best solutions to restore the database in a much safer way. 

Challenges During Recover SQL Server Database Without Backup Process

When the user tries to restore the SQL Database without a backup file, it often creates various challenges for them. We will first understand these challenges and then try the methods that will help the users to proceed with the desired method efficiently. 

• Risk of Data Loss due to the inappropriate choice of method.
• Corruption in MDF or LDF Files makes it hard to read by the Server. 
• The rebuilt log files might not have the committed or uncommitted transactions.
• Manual recovery methods might take longer to complete the recovery process.

These are the issues one might encounter while recovering a deleted SQL DB. Let’s now move to the methods that will help the users to efficiently resolve how to recover deleted database in SQL Server without backup issue. 

Manual Methods to Restore SQL Database Without Backup 

Recovering the lost data is not a serious deal if you have the backup file and know how to recover the data files. Here are a few DBCC CHECKDB commands or orders with the use of which you can recover SQL Server database without backup

• DBCC CHECKDB (DATABASE_NAME): – Check the whole database to fix it in the command line or query manager.
• REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS: – You can use this command to fix the data with the assistance of the allocation and deallocation of rows. This command evacuates the damaged content, row error, page errors, and column error. This may sound simple yet is an exceptionally complicated procedure and the chance of losing data. This is not the best solution to bring the SQL Server database to a consistent state because this will cause data loss situations. 
• REPAIR_FAST: – This is another command used for fixing the database. It will take less time but only do minor modifications. 
• DBCC CHECKTABLE (TABLE_NAME): – You can utilize this DBCC CHECKTABLE command order in the command line or query manager for Recovering a deleted SQL DB.

All commands must be performed if you have Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. For this, you first need to open it in your framework and follow the below-mentioned steps. 

1. Search for the Toolbar, go there and click on New Query button 
2. Go to the new query page. 
3. Enter the below-mentioned SQL script:

EXEC sp_resetstatus [DATABASE_NAME];
ALTER DATABASE [DATABASE_NAME] SET EMERGENCY
DBCC CHECKDB ([DATABASE_NAME])
ALTER DATABASE [DATABASE_NAME] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
DBCC DATABASE ([DATABASE_NAME], REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS)
ALTER DATABASE [DATABASE_NAME] SET MULTI_USER

4. Now, Execute the corruption fixing task at last to recover SQL Server database without backup.

You can use this strategy if you have a decent knowledge of this method or under the direction of an expert. If this procedure sets aside a long effort to execute, at that point maybe the corruption is high, however, if it is requiring normal time, at that point, it implies that corruption is severe.

Another method to resolve this issue and recover the deleted database in SQL Server is by reattaching the database files to the server. Let’s take a look to how this method works.

Recovering a Deleted SQL DB By Attaching MDF and LDF Files

One of the ways to restore the SQL Server database is by attaching the database files manually. To restore the database, users can reattach the MDF and LDF files to the SQL Server. There are certain situations where the user doesn’t have access to the LDF files, or the log files are missing or corrupted; in such situations, the user can only attach the MDF file and rebuild the log file. 

We will take a look at the steps now, considering both of these situations for a better resolution of how to recover deleted database in SQL Server without backup.

Way 1: Reattach Both MDF and LDF Files to the Database

Use the given T-SQL Command to attach the MDF and LDF files for recovering a deleted SQL DB:

With this command, you can efficiently attach the MDF and LDF files to the database. Now, in case the users do not have the Log file or the .ldf file is unavailable due to damage or corruption, users can also attach only the MDF file of the desired database. 

Way 2: Attach Only the MDF File of the Database

In case the LDF file of a database file is corrupted or unavailable, users can only attach the MDF file of the database and further rebuild the Log file with the help of the MDF file. 

The T-SQL command for the same is:

This command will help you to attach the primary database file to the server and further rebuild the database log file using the MDF file. Rebuilding a new log can possibly result in loss of the uncommitted transactions, hence, it is important for the users to consider this aspect before initiating the process of recovering a deleted SQL DB. 

Efficient Method to Recover SQL Server Database Without Backup

Now, to counter the above issues if DBCC CHECKDB job fail, users need to take the help of a mechanized strategy. To restore the SQL database without recent backups the user can use take the help of the automated utility. This application is also trusted by SQL database administrators. It helps the user to recover the entire database components such as SQL table, stored procedure, Functions, Views, Triggers, etc.

Also, the user can use this for learning how to recover deleted database in SQL Server without backup. This software is compatible with the latest SQL Server versions 2019 and all its prior versions. Moreover, there are several features that makes the entire operation quite smooth for users. This is the best way to restore SQL Server database without backups even in case of corruption or accidental deletion.

Let us look at the procedure to recover SQL database without backups.

Step-1. Install and Run the Software on your machine.  And click on Add file.

Step-2. Browse  the file MDF from its location. 

Step-3. Now choose Advanced Scan mode and Select the SQL Server version. 

Step-4. Tool Starts the Scanning process of MDF file.

Step 5: Preview the database components as well as deleted SQL records.

Step-6. Click on the Export button to recover the database components. 

Conclusion 

In this post, we have discussed how to recover SQL Server database without backup. We comprehended that manual techniques are risky and complex while the automated solution is straightforward and furnishes guaranteed results with 100% achievement. Apart from that, the reason we recommend advanced utility for learning how to recover deleted data from SQL Server without backup is because of the 

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