SQL Suspect Mode Repair | How to Recover SQL Database from Suspect Mode

What is SQL Suspicious Pattern?

Suspect mode is one of the states of a SQL Server database, which can be Online, Restoring, Recovery Pending, Recovery Pending, Emergency mode, and Suspect. The SQL Server database state represents the current operational mode of the database, and a suspect SQL database means that the recovery process has started but did not complete successfully, requiring user intervention to fix the issue and repair the damaged files. Thus, SQL Suspect mode implies that the database is not accessible to users: you cannot connect to the database during server startup or recover it.

Why is a SQL Server database marked as suspect?

There can be numerous reasons behind a database going into a “suspect” state. Here are some of them:

< li >Damaged database files< /li >< li >Database files that are inaccessible< /li >< li >An abnormal shutdown of the SQL database server< /li >< li >The device that holds the data or log files is unavailable< /li >< li >A crash of the SQL Server< /li >

There could be more reasons that lead to a SQL database in suspect mode. However, the method to fix the Suspect SQL Server database remains the same. Read on to know how to recover SQL database from suspect mode.

How to Recover MS SQL Database from Suspect Mode

Dealing with SQL Server in troubleshoot mode is a common issue that administrators often encounter. Based on experience and practice, there is a tested approach to recover from the troubleshoot mode in MS SQL: 1. **Identify the Problem**: First, determine the reason why SQL Server was started in troubleshoot mode. This could be due to issues like failed updates, startup errors, or configuration problems. 2. **Take a Backup**: Before making any changes, ensure you have a backup of your SQL Server data. This will protect you from any potential data loss. 3. **Stop the SQL Service**: Open the Services management console (services.msc) and stop the SQL Server service related to the instance in troubleshoot mode. 4. **Edit the Configuration File**: Locate the SQL Server's configuration file, `sqlservr.exe.config`, usually found in the installation directory. Open it with a text editor and look for the line `-m`. This parameter starts SQL Server in single-user mode. Remove or comment out this line. 5. **Restart the Service**: Save the changes and restart the SQL Server service from the Services management console. 6. **Check the Status**: If the service starts successfully, connect to SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and check for any error messages or issues in the SQL Server logs. 7. **Resolve Issues**: Address any reported issues. This might involve repairing the installation, modifying settings, or applying patches. 8. **Normal Mode Restart**: Once all issues are resolved, stop the SQL Server service again, remove the modifications made to the configuration file, and restart the service. SQL Server should now start in normal mode. 9. **Verify Functionality**: Connect to the server through SSMS and confirm that everything is working as expected. Remember, this is a general guideline, and the specific steps may vary depending on the actual issue. Always refer to Microsoft's official documentation for detailed instructions or seek assistance from a professional if needed.

Step 1: Put the database into emergency mode.

Launch Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your database.

Select "New Query"

Close the suspect flag on the database and switch to emergency mode.

EXEC sp_resetstatus 'DatabaseName';

Set the database to Emergency mode: ```sql ALTER DATABASE db_name SET EMERGENCY ``` This SQL command switches the database named `db_name` into Emergency mode. In this mode, the database allows only read operations, enabling administrators to fix potential data issues or perform necessary maintenance tasks.

Step 2: Run a consistency check on the master database.

DBCC CHECKDB ('Database Name')

Step 3: Place the database in single-user mode and then roll back the earlier transaction.

Change the database, database_name, to single-user mode and roll back any pending transactions immediately.

Step 4: Backup your database, as the next steps could result in data loss.

Step 5: Run a database repair that allows for some data loss.

DBCC CHECKDB ('Database_Name', REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS)

If some of your database files got lost after this operation and you don't have any backups available, you can use a professional hard drive recovery software to get them back.

Step 6: Convert the database to multiuser mode.

Change the database database_name to multiuser mode

Step 7: Refresh the SQL database server and check the database connectivity.

In most of the cases, users are able to fix the suspect database and gain access back by following the above mentioned steps. However, the solution fails to recover the SQL database from suspect mode to normal, which usually takes place when the SQL Server device files get severely corrupted. If you are in such a situation, don't hesitate to try using the MS SQL Recovery Tool to repair your database and restore lost records.

Key Features:

• Repairs corrupt SQL database files (MDF / NDF files)
• Repairs SQL Server database components – Tables, Triggers, Indexes, Keys, Rules and Stored Procedures
• Recovers deleted/inaccessible records from SQL databases
• Facility to save the scanned database to resume data recovery at later stage

It will help you fix your database when you cannot recover MS SQL from suspect mode and enables you to resolve common SQL database errors.

Follow these steps to repair the database:

Step 1: Select the corrupted database to be recovered

• Launch the MS SQL Recovery tool. • Click on “Browse” (two dots) or “Search” to select the corrupt database file. • After selecting the file, click on the “Repair” button to initiate the scanning process.

Caution: You must stop the SQL Server service before using this utility.

Step 2: Repair the corrupt database

• The software displays all recoverable items in a tree structure. These items are displayed in the left pane.
• Select the item to restore. In the window, click the Export button.

Select Database Objects

Step 3: Export to database or script

• Choose to export database objects to a database, or export the project as a script. • If you choose to Export to Database, enter the required information and select the target database.

A window will pop up asking for your server credentials and the destination to save the recovery project. Click “OK” to start the repair process.

Note: The SQL Server service must be restarted before you click OK.