How to Fix “Recovery Has Indicated That There Might Be A Lossy Recovery Option” Error?

Summary: This write-up provides solution to fix the error “recovery has indicated that there might be a lossy recovery option” that doesn’t usually come across.

When users replay the transaction log files within the Microsoft Exchange database to recover the data. The issue that they face missing the transaction log files and because of this users will not complete the recovery process. Rather on trying replay the log file the procedure terminated midway with an error:

“Recovery has indicated that there might be a lossy recovery option”

This error message is slightly perplexing but the base of this issue lie in missing log file.

Overview Of Transaction Log Files

The transaction log files are the crucial part of Microsoft Exchange Server because it contains each and every details that users do their work on the server. Any changes in the Exchange mailbox database is first written on the transaction log file then its contents are written to the database.

Transaction log files soften the job of operating server activities. After the backup is taken it allows the users to access the server. This log files help Exchange administrators to recover the mailbox data during the disaster recovery.  Due to various reasons such as: Exchange dirty shutdown state, Microsoft database corruption Exchange 2010/2013/2016, etc… To resolve this problem Exchange admin restore the database from backup or by replay the committed log files.

If the transaction log file which needs to be replay are missing or deleted then users will face the same error that we are fixing now from the server.

Solution to Fix the Error “Recovery Has Indicated That There Might Be A Lossy Recovery Option”

Users can perform the soft recovery Exchange 2016/2013/2010 to bring backup the inconsistent mailbox database to the consistent state only if you don’t have complete backup to restore the Exchange database. This solution doesn’t work if there are missing transaction log file, which is the case here.

Then, users have to deal with this problem in distinct way:

1. First, try to perform the restore process and if it doesn’t work, then you have to hard repair the mailbox database which is mentioned below:

Step 1: Insert the eseutil /p command given below to perform hard repair

Step 2: Click OK button to continue the process of restoring the Exchange mailbox database.

Step 3: When the process complete and the database comes in clean shutdown state. Then, use the following eseutil /d cmdlet to defrag Exchange mailbox database.

Step 4: Insert the command given below to fix the logical corruption & repair the mailbox database at the application level.

After that when the state of the Microsoft Exchange database clean shutdown state appears, then you have to mount database Exchange 2016/2013/2010. While repair the database using eseutil /p command can cause data loss which is permanent.

Limitation Of Manual Solution

1. Need in-depth knowledge, technical skills and hands-on experience
2. Data loss is permanent and you cannot predict how much data can be lost
3. Require large storage space to perform hard repair and its time-consuming method

Note: To avoid the complexity of the manual solution and prevent the loss of data users can use the automated solution given below to recover damaged or corrupted Exchange database file with no data loss.

Use Third-party Software to Repair Exchange EDB File

SysTools Exchange Server Recovery Software used by various Exchange / IT administrators, users to recover & repair EDB file and mailboxes from corruption. It provides scan mode option i.e. Quick and Advance scan which recovers minimal as well as severely corrupted offline/dismounted Exchange database automatically without losing any data.

Depending on the level of corrupted EDB file users can select the dual scan option. If the mailbox database is minimally damaged or corrupted select the Quick scan and for major corruption click on the Advance scan. This option recovers & repair Exchange mailbox and database automatically without using any cmdlet. Any users can use this software and it provides an interactive graphical interface that saves the users time and effort too.

Also, the advance scanning option recovers permanently deleted mailboxes and items from the loaded EDB file. Users can use this scan mode and recover deleted mailbox after retention period. Then users can extract mailbox from EDB file Exchange 2016/2013 and export directly to Live Exchange Server, Office 365 and HTML, PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF file format.

This utility generates the export report which contains the success and fail count of export Exchange data.

Key Features Of Automated Wizard

1. Support public and private EDB & STM file
2. Preview Exchange database mailbox data items before conversion
3. Preserve folder hierarchy and keep metadata intact
4. Date file option export mailbox item in a specified period of time
5. Export select EDB mailbox data items via categories filter option
6. Suitable with all Windows OS, Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server versions

Bringing It All Together

Now users have detailed information on how the error occurs and the solution to fix the “recovery has indicated that there might be a lossy recovery option”. If users want to avoid all the complexity and recover the corrupted Exchange mailbox database without any loss of data. For that they can use the advanced solution described in the above section which easily removes corruption (minor and major) from the EDB file automatically with no data loss and export the mailboxes to Exchange Server, O365 and multiple file formats in a hassle freeway.