Best Practices To Repair “SQL Server Database Recovery Pending” State

MS SQL Server makes its identity as a relational database management system. It supports several functionalities in a corporate IT environment, such as transaction processing, business intelligence, and analytics applications. Apart from this, the commonly used SQL server functionalities include aggregate functions, date functions, string functions, system functions, and window functions.

Most of the time, it doesn’t show any errors and smoothly works while functioning the database content. But sometimes, users have witnessed the “SQL Server Database Recovery Pending” state that originates the need to repair corrupt SQL Database. In this writeup, we are going to discuss its primary causes along with significant solutions to fix the SQL Server Recovery Pending state. 

However, you need to understand the different SQL Server database states before exploring the effective solutions to fix the SQL Recovery Pending state.

Different States of SQL Server Database 

If you are unable to access one or more core files, it means your SQL Server Database is corrupt or damaged. Depending upon the severity of the corruption, you can classify the Database in three different states. 

• Online: When a single data file is corrupted while executing a query, the database remains available. This state is known as the Online state, where data is accessible to users. 
• Suspect: The database is marked as Suspect when the transaction log file is damaged and could not be recovered during the startup of the SQL server.
• Recovery Pending: When the server knows to run the recovery, but due to some reasons, it is prevented from starting. This state is different from the Suspect State because it doesn’t say that recovery has failed, in fact, it hasn’t yet started. 

You can run the following command to check the SQL Server Database State.

SELECT name, state_desc from sys.databases 

GO  

Possible Reasons Behind SQL Server Database Recovery Pending State

SQL users are not accustomed to facing such a scenario while accessing the database. But sometimes SQL Server Recovery Pending state occurs due to the following reasons.

• Due to the Improper SQL Server Shutdown

Sometimes due to the sudden power failure, the SQL server shuts down improperly. It often leaves some queries or transaction logs in a broken state or half-complete state.

• Insufficient Space or Lack of Memory

SQL Server utilizes the Caching and Buffer pools that help to operate on restricted memory. However, if the memory space is too thin, the database recovery can’t be initiated. This scenario causes the recovery pending in SQL server. 

• Corruption of Log Files

In some cases, the migration of log files to a new drive can lead to the corruption of Log files. This state arises due to Unexpected shutdowns, faulty memory, and limited storage. Hence, it results in SQL Database Recovery pending state. 

• Possibility of a Corrupt MDF File 

The corruption of MDF files is one of the primary reasons behind the SQL Server Database Recovery Pending state. MDF files are known as the primary database file that contains schema and data. Sometimes, it gets corrupted due to various reasons such as disk subsystem issues, platform issues, hardware faults, etc.  

After going through the main possible reasons behind the SQL DB Recovery Pending state, let’s initiate SQL Database Recovery, which is in the recovery pending state.

Manual Methods to Repair SQL Server Recovery Pending State

You need to assure that you have an adequate backup of the database before initiating the repair process. Also, it is a technical approach that requires some technical knowledge of the SQL server database. If you are not confident, then you can opt for a reliable SQL Recovery Tool to fix the SQL Recovery Pending state simply and effectively.

The manual approach consists of the following 2 methods that help to bring the SQL database to a normal state.

Method-1 Start the forceful repair by setting up the Database in Emergency Mode.

Emergency mode marks the database as READ_ONLY. It disables logging and only allows access to the system administrator. After opening the database in EMERGENCY mode, execute the following queries to repair the SQL Server Database Recovery Pending state.

ALTER DATABASE [DBName] SET EMERGENCY;

GO

ALTER DATABASE [DBName] set single_user

GO

DBCC CHECKDB ([DBName], REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS;

GO

ALTER DATABASE [DBName] set multi_user

GO

Method-2 Mark SQL Database in Emergency Mode then Disconnect the Main Database to Re-attach it

To execute this method, you need to mark SQL DataDatabase in EMERGENCY Mode. After that, detach the main database to take it into Offline Mode and then Re-attach it. Execute the following sets of queries to fix the SQL Server Recovery Pending state.

ALTER DATABASE [DBName] SET EMERGENCY;

ALTER DATABASE [DBName] set multi_user

EXEC sp_detach_db ‘[DBName]’

EXEC sp_attach_single_file_db @DBName = ‘[DBName]’, @physname = N'[mdf path]’

This set of queries will safely remove the corruption from the log file and automatically build a new one to fix the Recovery Pending state. However, as you can see that it is a purely technical process that requires technical knowledge. In case you are not confident enough to execute the manual methods, then you can opt for the alternate approach that consists of professional SQL Repair Software. 

Direct Approach to Fix SQL Server Database Recovery Pending State

The above discussed manual ways to fix SQL server database is an effective technique. However, you need to perform it with utmost care. Additionally, it becomes complex for non-technical users. In such a scenario, you can opt for a reliable SQL Recovery Tool that will help you to recover the corrupt files in SQL database Server. However, it is recommended to try its free trial version first to ensure the following functionalities.

1. It should be capable of recovering both MDF and NDF files in the SQL server database. 
2. Enable users to recover the data files of MS SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
3. It must support the SQL Server ROW and PAGE Compression. 
4. It should also allow you to export SQL tables and records in CSV format.
5. The software must comprise an Advanced recovery mode to recover the severely corrupted SQL server database.

Such a utility enables users to repair and restore data from the corrupted SQL server database files. SQL server database corruption may also lead the SQL Server database to go into suspect mode. However, it depends upon the users whether they opt for the manual ways to fix the error or if they want to go with the software solution. 

Conclusion

In this blog article, we have tried to provide all the necessary information required to repair SQL Server database recovery pending state. We have also discussed some of the best practices that users should follow while repairing SQL Server recovery pending state. However, in case you want to opt for a direct software approach, then you should ensure the above-discussed conditions of a reliable SQL Recovery Tool.