How to Restore Point in Time Recovery in SQL Server – Step-by-step Approach

In this blog, we are going to discuss manual as well as an automated approach to restore point in time recovery in SQL Server.

SQL server point in time restore option can be really useful at the recovery time. To do so, users may need to push back the SQL Server database. It is required due to a variety of reasons, that include accidentally deleting a specific table, incorrect execution of DML or DDL commands, etc. Thus, to overcome these problems through rolling back of the database to its previous state; the state where major damages did not affect the database. Although restoring back to the point it depends on the recovery model of the database.

Restore Point in Time Recovery in SQL Server – Reasons

Review the following reasons that require recovery. Follow the below-mentioned points as such:

• The upgradation of database fails due to a failure in the script.
• The data stored in the database can be destroyed by errors, viruses or worms.
• Because of transaction, logs or backups were missing the recovery of database after failure might not work well

Steps to Restore Database Point in Time Recovery in SQL Server

There are two manual ways, i.e., Server Management Studio and T-SQL by which users can perform SQL server point in time recovery. Follow these steps to restore point in time recovery in SQL Server:

Using Server Management Studio

a) Connect to SQL Server Database engine and then, expand Databases.

b) Open the database file either System Databases or User-defined, choose accordingly
c) Select the required System database, choose Task then option and points to Restore & Databases
d) In the General window screen, Specify the Source and Location for restoring. Users can select either from a database or from the device.
e) Under the Destination section it can load the name automatically when the user can select a file from the database. If the selection is done from a specific device, users must specify the destination name.

f) Identify the Timeline accordingly to restore the entire database back to time.
g) In Option window, users can come across the Restore and Recovery state options.

h) Restore option consists many options. Users can choose as per their requirement.

• Overwrite an existing database (WITH REPLACE)
• Protect the replication settings (WITH KEEP_REPLICATION)
• Prompt before retrieving each backup
• Restrict accessibility to the recovered database file (WITH RESTRICTED_USER)

i) In the Recovery state section, users will find the options for setting recovery state of database after regaining.

• RESTORE WITH RECOVERY: It becomes a default option and keeps the database ready by rolling back all the uncommitted transactions.
•  RESTORE WITH NORECOVERY: Uncommitted transactions can not roll backed but extra transactions will be retrieved.
•  RESTORE WITH STANDBY: It can eliminate the uncommitted transactions but also saves the eliminating actions in Standby file to revert back the recovery effects later.

j) Press “OK” button.

Using Transact-SQL (Transaction SQL)

For going with this solution, users need full transaction log files. Here, the restoration process takes place from the transaction log backups only. According to this, the target database name is defined along with time in the STOPAT clauses. Go through the given below Syntax:

For this, the transaction logs those are committed after a stated time in WITH STOPAT clause is not recovered and the error message will display if the last backup does not suit with the target time. If specified time is incorrect then, the success of restoration process is uncertain in that case.

Automated Approach

If the backup file is found to be corrupt, you can recover your .bak file using SQL backup file repair tool. The software restore SQL database from backup file without any difficulty. You can upload the file of any size. It has an easy-to-use interface that even a novice user can use it without taking help of expertise.

Time to Conclude

The blog covers the steps to Restore database Point in time recovery in SQL Server. You can Restore Point in Time Recovery in SQL Server by two ways either by SSMS or by TSQL. If your bak file is corrupted, you can recover it using SQL backup recovery tool to restore database point in time in SQL Server.

Frequently Asked Questions