I have a problem handed to me from a Client. The Client is using a SQL server
database for production statistics and follow up. Somehow (I don't know how,
nor does my client contact) the databse in question was marked as SUSPECT by
management studio and could not be accessed.

The database was taken offline and detached and a new temporary database was
created to be able to continue production.

The .ldf and .mdf files of the old database were saved at a secure location.

The client has now asked me to restore the old database. During the summer
they have also had problems with their backups and because of this the last
backup is pretty old.

When I try to attach the mdf file of the suspect database I get error 3456
Could not redo log record...

How can I restore the database using the .mdf and .ldf files I have. The
client can accept some data being lost in the process removing records that
are causing problems etc.

Any advice is appreciated

Regards

Henrik

Henrik
Have you tried to attach a single .MDF file?



"Henrik" <henrik_@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:E327D20D-09E6-4665-853B-C45B4A4DCA51@microsoft.com...
>I have a problem handed to me from a Client. The Client is using a SQL
>server
> database for production statistics and follow up. Somehow (I don't know
> how,
> nor does my client contact) the databse in question was marked as SUSPECT
> by
> management studio and could not be accessed.
>
> The database was taken offline and detached and a new temporary database
> was
> created to be able to continue production.
>
> The .ldf and .mdf files of the old database were saved at a secure
> location.
>
> The client has now asked me to restore the old database. During the summer
> they have also had problems with their backups and because of this the
> last
> backup is pretty old.
>
> When I try to attach the mdf file of the suspect database I get error 3456
> Could not redo log record...
>
> How can I restore the database using the .mdf and .ldf files I have. The
> client can accept some data being lost in the process removing records
> that
> are causing problems etc.
>
> Any advice is appreciated
>
> Regards
>
> Henrik

> When I try to attach the mdf file of the suspect database I get error 3456
> Could not redo log record...

That error suggests that the copy of the database files are not from a state where they are
transactionally consistent meaning that the log file is needed to get a clean database. I.e., you
can try sp_attach_single_file_db but chances are that SQL Server won't let you because it apparently
feel that something is not right with your ldf file.

Be prepared for a lot of hard work and also data loss.

Also be prepared that you might have to bite the bullet and restore from your most recent clean
backup. Actually restoring from your most clean backup is (most probably, judging from the error you
mentioned) your only *safe* option - the other possible options will most probably mean that you get
a transactionally inconsistent database where you either will have to live the inconsistencies or
manually clean up the data.

Consider straight ahead to hire somebody at SQL Server expert level to do this work for you.


Before we take this further: what version of SQL Server?

--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi


"Henrik" <henrik_@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:E327D20D-09E6-4665-853B-C45B4A4DCA51@microsoft.com...
>I have a problem handed to me from a Client. The Client is using a SQL server
> database for production statistics and follow up. Somehow (I don't know how,
> nor does my client contact) the databse in question was marked as SUSPECT by
> management studio and could not be accessed.
>
> The database was taken offline and detached and a new temporary database was
> created to be able to continue production.
>
> The .ldf and .mdf files of the old database were saved at a secure location.
>
> The client has now asked me to restore the old database. During the summer
> they have also had problems with their backups and because of this the last
> backup is pretty old.
>
> When I try to attach the mdf file of the suspect database I get error 3456
> Could not redo log record...
>
> How can I restore the database using the .mdf and .ldf files I have. The
> client can accept some data being lost in the process removing records that
> are causing problems etc.
>
> Any advice is appreciated
>
> Regards
>
> Henrik