Resolve the SQL Server Recovery Pending Issue in Simple Steps

SQL Servers are used by businesses worldwide to handle critical day-to-day operations. Therefore, getting an SQL Server recovery pending alert in a database poses a serious risk to the regular functionality of any company.

What further exaggerates the problem is that the server cannot fix it automatically. Hence, read this blog and learn everything from the scenarios that cause SQL recovery pending to the solutions that fix it. To better understand the situation, let’s examine the various states in which a database can exist. 

Different States of an SQL Server and Their Meaning 

The possibility exists that something unexpected could happen during database management operations, leading to damage within a server. However, ‌SQL Server includes a way to check its health. 

Use this query and find the current state of your database:

SELECT name, state_desc from sys.databases 
GO

Here is a brief list of the most common states of a database including recovery pending in SQL Server for comparison. 

ONLINE: It means the database is fully functional and has little to no damage.

OFFLINE: A database that is no longer connected to the server displays this state.

SUSPECT: Minor instability during database operations pushes it into suspect mode.

RECOVERY_PENDING: The state indicates an obstruction in server restoration process. 

RESTORING: It is shown by a database that is currently going through a recovery process.

Read More: Fix SQL Server Does Not Exist or Access Denied Error Isssue 

There are other states in which you may find a database, but they are rare and are easier to deal with. So let’s proceed to the possible reasons why a database is in a Recovery Pending mode.

What Causes an SQL Server to Go in the Recovery Pending State

Many scenarios result in this issue popping up on a server. Get a more clear understanding by going through the explanations given below:

Hardware Malfunction: A server is a complex machine that includes many different components like control units, storage devices, network cards, etc. A problem arising in any one of them can lead to a “Recovery Pending” state. For example.

• Faulty Power Supply: It can cause sudden outages or force an improper shutdown.
• Excessive Memory Usage: Server becomes unresponsive & delays I/O operations.
• Deficient Network Capacity: Transition calls fail & trigger a Recovery Pending mode.

Cyber Attacks: SQL Servers are a prime target for cybercriminals as they store business-critical information. Moreover, due to negligence, users often fail to set up proper security policies and become victims of cyber attacks like.

• Query manipulation: Or ‌SQL injection is used by black-hat hackers, to gain unauthorized access to a server & execute malicious queries to corrupt the database.
• Ransomware: Nefarious entities lock unsecured databases, and demand a monetary sum for releasing the data. 
• Server Sniffing Attack: Cybercriminals intercept network traffic of an SQL Server. They then send false requests, to force the server into a Recovery Pending state.

Server Errors: There is no doubt that SQL Server is a robust tool that serves as the backbone for many key industries. However, even then it does not come with a 100% guarantee. Recovery Pending alerts are also due to user errors and server limitations.

• High Log File Corruption: Users who fail to transfer log files properly, get errors.
• Inadequate Permission: Server displays ‌pending alerts due to invalid credentials.
• Job Scheduler Errors: Multiple job requests at the same time may cause this issue.

With this one thing is certain, these errors cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, we present an industry-leading tool for solving this database issue.

Fix the SQL Server Recovery Pending Professionally 

One of the best ways to solve the recovery pending error is to use the SysTools SQL Database Recovery Software. Not only is this tool endorsed by specialist Database Admins, but is also the favorite of non-technical users. It is because of the unique combination of a user-friendly interface with advanced repairing algorithms, all in a single package.

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With its preview feature, users also get to look at their present database items and the deleted objects within the tool itself.  Moreover, it comes with an option to export the recovered data to an SQL Server on the same machine or a different one connected to the SQL Server. To use the tool, just follow these simple steps and free the database from the recovery pending state.

Step-1. Set up the tool on your machine, launch it, and click on the open button.

Step-2. Choose Quick or Advanced, then “Auto-Detect SQL Server” or manually select file.

Step-3. Once the file preview is verified, click on the Export option at the top menu bar.

Step-4. Choose an export format as per your need out of (Server, Script, CSV).

Step-5. Fill in and choose the necessary details like ” Create New Database”.

Step-6. At last, pick either “With Only Schema” or “Schema with data” & hit Export.

Read More: Get an Overview of the Top 5 SQL Recovery Tools in the Market 

Manual Mechanisms to Deal with the Issue

Users can go with either of the two manual approaches here to fix the SQL recovery pending status. Follow the procedure given properly to avoid any data loss:

Also Read: Solve SQL Network Interfaces Error 26 in A Safe Manner

Method 1: Using DBCC CHECKDB

One option available is to initiate the repair process by changing the SQL Database to EMERGENCY MODE. After that execute the following DBCC CHECKDB queries to resolve recovery pending SQL Server:

ALTER DATABASE [User_DB_Name] SET EMERGENCY;
GO
ALTER DATABASE [User_DB_Name] set single_user
GO
DBCC CHECKDB ([User_DB_Name], REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS;
GO
ALTER DATABASE [User_DB_Name] set multi_user
GO

EMERGENCY mode marks the SQL database as READ_ONLY. Moreover, it deactivates logging and grants authorization only to the system administrator.

It is one way to fix technical problems like the recovery pending state and restoring the database in an accessible state. Users need not worry about exiting the EMERGENCY STOP mode; it is handled by the server itself.

Method 2: Detach and Attach Method

Here, too, we put our SQL database in EMERGENCY MODE. However, instead of applying DBCC CHECK DB, it involves detaching the main database and re-attaching it later.

The set of queries used for an alternative SQL Server Recovery Pending solution is:

ALTER DATABASE [User_DB_Name] SET EMERGENCY;
ALTER DATABASE [User_DB_Name] set multi_user
EXEC sp_detach_db ‘[User_DB_Name]’
EXEC sp_attach_single_file_db @DBName = ‘[User_DB_Name]’, @physname = N'[user_mdf_path]’

The above-mentioned code is only able to resolve minor problems. For a complete recovery, choose the automated solution.

Additional Information On: How to Repair Database Corruption in SQL Server

Conclusion

Through this blog, we presented a complete discussion on SQL Server recovery pending errors. Apart from the SQL queries that users had to type in manually, we also included a specialized tool to troubleshoot the issue automatically. Moreover, by choosing the best solution, a user saves both time and effort without any compromise.