Pb to open an attached mdf file

[Gilles Nambert]

Hi,

I'm not familiar with backup procedures of SQL Server (i'm used to make
simple file copies when no body works) and i have now the following
message :

Invalid header for the Base.mdf file. The property FILE SIZE is
incorrect.

Of course, i have some data to recover since the last good file. So, I
would appreciate if anybody knows how to repair the file ?

Thanks and best regards
Gilles



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[Erland Sommarskog]

Re: Pb to open an attached mdf file

Gilles Nambert (gntools@hotmai l.fr) writes:

I'm not familiar with backup procedures of SQL Server (i'm used to make
simple file copies when no body works) and i have now the following
message :
>
Invalid header for the Base.mdf file. The property FILE SIZE is
incorrect.
>
Of course, i have some data to recover since the last good file. So, I
would appreciate if anybody knows how to repair the file ?

Seems like you are in big trouble. I think the best advice I can give
you is to open a support case with Microsoft, although it will cost you
an arm and a leg. There is considerable risk that you database is lost.

The proper way to back up an SQL Server database is to use the BACKUP
command in SQL Server. You cannot simply make a file backup of the MDF
and LDF file while the server is running, as the backup may not be
transactionally consistent. If you have shut down the server, I think
it's safe, but it's nothing I would recommend for a production database.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel@sommarsk og.se

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at

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