How to Repair Database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server?

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  • Published on
    February 21st, 2014
  • Updated on
    May 9, 2023
  • Read Time
    7 minutes
Summary:-SQL Server is a relational database management system, or RDBMS, managed by Microsoft. It comes up with various transaction processing, business intelligence, and analytics application functions that help the corporate in IT environments. However, at times when you connect to an SQL Server instance, you will find that the SQL Server is marked as SUSPECT, and as a result, you won’t be able to connect with the database for reading and writing your data. In this blog, we will know how to Repair Database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server. It also includes the working of the SQL Database Recovery that helps you to recover SQL Database from Suspect Mode.

What is Database Suspect Mode in SQL Server?

There is always one specific situation in the SQL database at a particular time because it runs in different modes such as Online, Offline, Restoring, Recovering, Recovery, Pending, Suspect, and Emergency. Although every mode describes a state where the database files reside currently and requires separate procedures to handle. Let’s take the case of ‘SQL Server Database Suspect Mode,’ for example.

When connecting to the SQL Server database, if you find a message indicating that the database is in the suspect mode, it means the server suspects the primary filegroup of the database has become inaccessible. Under such a situation, neither will you be able to connect to the database nor will you be able to recover it during the server startup. You’ll need to perform some alternative recovery actions to resolve the issue.

What are the Reasons Behind SQL Server Database is Marked in Suspect Mode?

When SQL Server starts up, it attempts to obtain an exclusive lock on the server’s device file. If the device file uses another process or is missing, the SQL Server starts displaying the suspect mode error. There are some other possible reasons behind such errors like:

  • The system failed to open the device where the data or the log file resides.
  • Cannot find the file specified during the creation or opening of the physical device.
  • SQL server crashed or restarted in the middle of a transaction, thus corrupting the transaction log.
  • The installed antivirus cannot access data or log files while coming online.
  • The database server was not properly shut down.
  • Lack of Disk Space.
  • SQL is not able to complete a rollback or roll forward operation.
  • Database files are being held by the operating system, third-party backup software, etc.

Methods to Repair Database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server

There are different ways to fix the SQL Database Suspect Mode Error- exactly two; the first method is to use the SQL Server Management Studio, and the second is the direct and highly suggested SQL Database Recovery Tool.

Method 1: How to bring Database Online from Suspect Mode in SQL Server

Before starting the procedure to recover SQL Database from Suspect Mode, we suggest you take the backup of the SQL server. Once complete, follow the steps below to repair the database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server.

  • Open SQL Server Management Studio in your system and connect your database.
  • Select the New Query option.
  • In the New Query wizard, you have to type the following command to turn off the suspect flag on the database and set it to EMERGENCY:

EXEC sp_resetstatus ‘db_name’; 

ALTER DATABASE db_name SET EMERGENCY

Note:- However, if you can not set the database in emergency mode, you can go for the Next step.

  • There is a possibility that your suspect database is not corrupted. You can quickly check whether your database is corrupted or not by entering the DBCC CHECKDB command.

DBCC CHECKDB (‘database_name’)

  1. It may be possible that you will find consistency errors in the database. So you can use the minimum level of repair option to fix database corruption.
  2. And if you make up your mind about the repair process, you must first set the database into ‘Single User Mode.’ Therefore, it will prevent other users from making any changes to the database during the repair process.
  • Once you bring the database into the Single User mode, just roll back to the previous transactions by executing the below command:

ALTER DATABASE database_name SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE.

  • Also, make sure to take the backup of the corrupted files to overcome the chances of data loss.
  • Once you put the DB in the SINGLE USER mode, you can use the REPAIR_REBUILD option of DBCC CHECKDB to fix the consistency errors. This option is beneficial and quickly restores the corruption of missing rows in nonclustered indexes. You can also use it to save the timing of the repair operation.

DBCC CHECKDB (‘database_name’, REPAIR_REBUILD)

Although if REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS is not able to fix the minimum level of repair, then run DBCC CHECKDB with the suggested repair option. Below is the following command for that:

DBCC CHECKDB (‘database_name’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS)

  • Now, you have to bring the database into the Multi-User mode by the following command:

ALTER DATABASE database_name SET MULTI_USER

  • Refresh the database server and verify the connectivity of the database.

Once you complete all the steps, you can easily read and create data in the SQL server database. However, if there is a possibility of any data loss, you must restore your database with SQL Database Recovery.

An Automated Tool for SQL Server Database Suspect Mode Fix

If there is significant corruption in MS SQL database, then above mentioned steps may fail. In such a case the user has to choose an automated tool like Sysinfo SQL Database Recovery. This tool is able to repair database in suspect mode in SQL Server 2012. This tool can also Restore SQL Database with a Different Name.

offers some prominent features for users like:

  • Recovery data from SQL Server MDF & NDF Files.
  • 50+ Data Types Supported.
  • Rich Preview Mode.
  • Option to save as SQL Database or as SQL Scripts.
  • Dual Recovery Modes.
  • Support for SQL Server Compressions. Etc.
  • Compatible with all MS SQL Server versions.

Simple Steps to Repair Database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server

Just make sure to stop working on the SQL server before using this software. Now, implement the tested steps given below to recover SQL Database from Suspect Mode.

  1. Start the SQL Database Recovery Tool.
  2. Click Open to browse the SQL Server files MDF or NDF.
  3. Select the Recovery mode as per the level of corruption.
  4. You can also set the location for the log file and tap Next.
  5. The software scans your added file and shows the recovered SQL database data.
  6. Check the folder in the preview pane to save.
  7. Choose the saving mode: SQL Server database or SQL Script.
  8. Finally, click on the Ok button to finish the process.

Conclusion

Through this blog, we discussed the detailed methods to Repair Database in Suspect Mode in SQL Server. As we know, the SQL Server database is one of the most widely used databases across the globe. This database requires in-depth knowledge and expertise to be handled well. Many errors create severe issues with the SQL database and might be crucial to recovery. This SQL Database Recovery software is ideal for recovering the MS SQL server database from suspect mode.

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