SQLite Database Disk Image Is Malformed Issue: Troubleshooting Error

  author
Written By Andrew Jackson
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On March 21st, 2024
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

disk image is malformed

While working with SQLite database, it is quiet common to experience a few errors.One of such errors which occurs often is“SQLite database disk image is malformed”. There are many reasons behind the occurrence of this error and all the reasons somehow, corrupt the SQLite database.

In this blog, we will help you in getting acquainted with the probable reasons for this error. Also in one of the sections we have provided solutions, with the assistance of which we can troubleshoot and avoid this error.

SQLite Database Disk Image Is Malformed Error Causes

  • The foremost reason behind the occurrence of this error is the corruption of SQLite files. Therefore, users must know the ways to fix this error without hassles.
  • When a non-SQLite database file is tried to be opened in a SQLite database, this error comes up. For example, a user trying to open an MSSQL database in SQLite.
  • When a user creates a backup of the entire database while it is currently in use, the database disk image is malformed. This is why users must stop all operations.
  • Addition of large amounts of data, ultimately leads to increase in the size of SQLite database over the defined limit. This is responsible for generating this error.
  • Improper management of the entire database & its functionalities can lead to many unexpected errors. Evidently, a malformed disk image error is one of them.

image002

Key Points to for Disk Full or Database Disk Image is Malformed Error

In case the error has occurred due to large size of the database, do not try to delete the rows or tables. This effort of yours will turn futile because the size of the SQLite database grows in multiples of the size of the pages. Therefore, the database will not shrink unless and until you use VACUUM.

Also it happens that the database that you think has gone corrupted is actually not corrupted. It can be a fault of hardware or software issues.

  • The very first thing that users need to do is verify their database using an SQLite3 embedded command. Therefore, they must have sqlite3 (v3.25.2 or later) already set up in the system. Moreover, the steps might vary based on the operating system.
  • Here, users should use docker instead of direct installation. The reason for this is because this option is for only the x86_64 CPUs. Therefore, using the package manager of the operating system to install SQLite3 is the right choice.
  • Also, users must run an error check in advance. This is because as we know, facing database disk image is malformed issues can be due to corruption that users need to fix using the best of the best methods.

How To Troubleshoot This Error

There are number of manual solutions that can help you out to troubleshoot this error. We have mentioned some of them in the upcoming section:

  • You can resolve your corrupt database with the help of command line utility in SQLite shell.

                                                     cd $DATABASE LOCATION 

                                                 Echo ‘.dump’[sqlite $DB_NAME] sqlite repaired_$DB_NAME

                                                  My $DB_NAME corrupt_$DB_NAME

                                                    My repaired_$DB_NAME

  • Another method to remove this error is by replicating the corrupted database.Care should be taken while copying the database, so that no corruption takes place in the newly created database. following script should be run for doing the same:

                                                 shell$ sqlite3 some.db

                                                  sqlite>begin immediate;

                                                    <press CTRL+Z>

                                                      shell$ cpsome.dbsome.db.backup

                                                      shell$ exit

Fix Database Disk Image is Malformed SQLite Manually

  1. Launch the SQLite DB browser to initiate the error fixing task.
  2. Hit the Execute SQL tab to Run Database Check command.
  3. Type PRAGMA integrity check & proceed to hit the Pay button.
    Note: In case of corrupted files, the database will result in error that looks like:

    “Query executed successfully: PRAGMA integrity_check (took 0ms)”
  4. Export database to SQL file in case there is the above error present. Steps for the same are:
    File >> Export >> Database to SQL File.
  5. Adjust Settings in the new export dialog box, Select major Objects to export.
  6. Click on the Ok button, After completion, simply import the DB back to SQLite.

Best Way to Fix Disk is Full / the Database Disk Image is Malformed

There are scenarios where users need to avoid the manual solution. It is because of the technical difficulties. Therefore, what users can do is simply trust the most advanced & expert recommended SysTools SQLite Database Recovery available.

Download the utility & then follow the given four easy steps to get the desired solution.

Step-1. Launch the Software to begin the operation.

launch tool

Step-2. Scan the Database files now to continue.

scan files

Step-3. View SQLite Database healthy objects.

preview files

Step-4. Export the SQLite DB to destination & fix database disk image is malformed SQLite error.

export

Conclusion

By following above mentioned shell scripts, it is possible to resolve the database that poses the Error: SQLite Database disk image is malformed.In some cases if this error occurs again and again, it may cause high damage to the database.In such cases when SQLite database has gone severely corrupted, you can go for external solution like stated above that completely fixes damaged SQLite database.

  author

By Andrew Jackson

I am SQL DBA and SQL Server blogger too. I like to share about SQL Server and the problems related to it as well as their solution and also I do handle database related user queries, server or database maintenance, database management, etc. I love to share my knowledge with SQL Geeks.