Users around the world use SQL Server for the management of the database system which is usually stored in page form. The files storing this information are known as MDF & NDF data files. Users want to repair corrupted pages in SQL Server as pages are more likely to corrupt easily. The data is stored on various pages in these MDF & NDF data files at various locations without an issue.
Whenever we transfer SQL server files from source to destination, it gets transferred into pages. If there’s any interruption during the transfer process, some of the pages may get corrupted causing the file inaccessible. This is what we call SQL server page-level corruption & is a very serious issue. However, users can fix this with the right tools & techniques.
This article explains the challenges & solutions in-depth to fix this page-level corruption. We are going to start with the causes of the corruption followed by the respective solutions.
SQL Server Page-Level Corruption – What Are The Causes?
There can be several causes for the same & understanding these will help users to fix these issues without any hassles. Below we have mentioned the major causes of page-level corruption that are common in the majority of cases.
- Hardware Malfunction
Hard disk issues like a damage in parts or bad sectors often create issues in the pages & the data files stored in them. And, you need to regularly monitor your hard disk and other hardware in the system to avoid such problems.
- Power Failure Issue
Make sure that your server receives a constant & healthy power supply. If there is an interruption in the power supply when the database is running, it can also lead to page-level corruption.
- Malware, Ransomware & Viruses
Users should pay extra attention to downloading additional applications in the system. There are chances that the software you are downloading may contain a virus that can easily corrupt the pages. Similarly, ransomware & malware act the same. - Technical Issues
Installing the wrong updates can also cause database corruption. Users must pay attention while installing the updates to their SQL Server in order to prevent page-level corruption.
Methods to Repair Corrupted Page in SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, & Others
Users can execute the repair process either by manual process or by using the automated solution. Here, in the subsequent section, you will find both solutions. Users must note that if they are in a hurry & need accurate results in minimum time, the automated solution is the recommendation. This method can execute the entire task smoothly. Users can fix all the issues on pages without facing trouble at all. This is all possible because of the advanced features that this solution has.
However, there is a manual method available also to repair the corrupted pages but this is quite complex for user new users. Moreover, as we move further, we can say that the manual solution has various steps where users can get confused & complicate the task even more.
Fix SQL Server Page-Level Corruption by the Manual Approach
Execute the below-mentioned DBCC CHECKDB command to fix the corrupted page in the SQL server. Firstly, find out the corrupted page in SQL Server using the given instructions:
Step-1. Users need to download & install a text-comparison tool original & damaged/corrupted files differences smartly.
Step-2. Afterward, run the DBCC CHECKDB command on the corrupted files. This command will check the database files completely and identifies the issues & their roots.
Step-3. Switch on the trace flag 3604 and execute the DBCC PAGE command to examine infected pages & their content.
DBCC TRACEON (3604)
DBCC PAGE ({ ‘dbname’ | dbid}, filenum, pagenum [, printopt={0|1|2|3}])
Here, Filenum & Pagenum refers to the Id of the page. Below you can check out several other parameters:
0 – Used for printing the page header
1 – It’s just denoting page header with the per row hex dumps
2 – Used for denoting page header with the all page hex dump
3 – This is denoting the page header with per-row interpretation
Run the below command to confirm the page number effectively.
Select * from dbo.tablename
Step-4. Once the location of corruption is confirmed, use the comparison tool to compare the corrupt file with an original backup file.
Step-5. At last, fix the corrupted page and execute the DBCC CHECKDB command on the recovered database files to fix the page-level corruption in SQL Server.
Challenges to Repair Corrupted Page in SQL Server Manually
Now, users need to face various stumbling blocks in order to repair the corruption issues in SQL Servers 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012 & other old versions. You can find all the major challenges of this task below.
- Time-Consuming Operation
The highly time-taking process to resolve corruption issues from SQL Server database
- Complex Manual Method for New Users
It requires users to execute several highly complicated & complex steps where new users can easily get confused.
- Require High-Level Core-Technical Knowledge
Extremely complex to implement for those users not possessing technical knowledge.
- Risk for Data Loss
Great chance of losing data while executing the commands to repair SQL server page-level corruption.
Automated Solution to Repair Corrupted Page in SQL Database
The manual method is not a reliable solution as we are aware of the challenges users face. Clearly, it is not the solution we want. So, the best way to fix SQL server page-level corruption is a reliable SQL Database Recovery Tool offered by Email Doctor.
This advanced tool can fix SQL-based corruption issues and errors without any issues. Moreover, the tool can efficiently repair corrupt MDF and NDF database files without the risk of any data loss.
Follow the steps mentioned below in detail with respective images.
Step-1. Download & Install this Application on your computer.
Step-2. Launch the Tool & then Add the MDF file by the Open button.
Step-3. Select the appropriate scanning option- for minor corruption use “Quick Scan” and for severe corruption use “Advance Scan”. Also, select the SQL Server version of your MDF file and click the “OK” button.
Step-4. Users can have a look at the recovered MDF file data like tables, views, functions, etc after the completion of the scanning process by the tool. Click the Export button.
Step-5. Now export the recovered data to SQL Server Database, SQL Server Compatible SQL Scripts, or CSV File Format.
Step-6. Select the required Database Components and then Click the Export button.
Concluding Words
In this article, we have explained the best methods to learn how to repair corrupted page in SQL server. This solution works with SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 / 2008 R2, 2005, and 2000. Users can select any tool based on their requirements & preference. Still, this particular modern method is a better option for all users.
However, the automated method protects your data so that there are no chances of data loss. Moreover, this software maintains data integrity during the operation. It provides you the safest environment to perform SQL database server page-level corruption repair process.