How to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log File

Among users, the Microsoft SQL Server database is one of the most common Relational Database Management systems (RDBMS). It is a collection of highly structured tables, wherein each row and column is designed to store a data entity and a specific information field. It allows users to create, store, update, and retrieve data in or from the SQL Server database to make work simple. Each SQL Server database mainly contains two different file types MDF(main database files) and LDF(transaction files). 

Whether an MDF file is used to store all the information in a database, an LDF file(also known as a Transaction file) can store all the transactions and changes to the database. However, there are many reasons why the SQL Server database files get corrupted or damaged, and in that period, users need to restore the database files(MDF and LDF) backed up locally into the SQL Server database to access and manage data. 

But what if your LDF file means the transaction Log file does not work or is accessible for you, and you must restore the SQL database files in the SQL Server? Here, this blog is going to describe to you the manual solution of How to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file. Or you can also go for the professional SQL Database Recovery Tool, which allows users to restore the SQL Database file (MDF) in the SQL Server without a transaction Log file.

Simple Methods to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file

There are various methods using which you can easily and efficiently restore your MDF file without LDF files in the SQL Server database. Although, make sure that two of them are manual, which will work if you can’t perform any operations while performing these solutions.

Method 1: Use SSMS to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file

SQL Server Management Studio(SSMS) is an application provided by Microsoft to configure, manage, and administer all components within Microsoft SQL Server. Including this, it also comes up with an option to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file. Here are steps to perform the restoration process of SQL Database files:

1. Run SQL Server Manager Studio(SSMS) on your system.
2. Right-click on the database node and select the Attach option.
3. Here, you will find an Attach Databases wizard. Click the Add button to select the database that you want to restore. 
4. Choose the database in the Locate Database Files windows and click on the Ok button.
5. Go to the Attach Databases wizard again; in the detail section of the Database details, you will find that .ldf files show you the Not found message.
6. Select the file and click on the Remove button to exclude it.
7. Once you complete the given steps, your SQL database files are restored.

Method 2: Use T-SQL Script to Attach Database MDF Without Transaction Log File

T-SQL Script allows you to restore SQL database files(MDF) without a Transaction log file. The procedure to perform the steps using the T-SQL script are:

Note:- Let’s ensure to enter the proper database name in the File-name.mdf.

CREATE DATABASE MDF_FILE_NAME

ON (FILENAME= ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\..\MSSQL\DATA\File-name.mdf’)

FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG

GO

Downsides of the Manual Methods

• These methods are workable when you don’t perform any work during the restoration process.
• There is a chance of database data loss.
• The process is too tricky and time-consuming.
• Users must need technical expertise to perform the above methods.

Method 3: An Automated Solution to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file

If the SQL Database files(MDF) are large in size or corrupt, then this above procedure does not work and does not allow you to attach SQL database files. Thus, you have to use the Aryson SQL Database Recovery, which allows users to restore SQL Database without transaction log files easily and quickly.

The software supports your healthy and corrupt MDF files and restores all the database data into the SQL Server. It also includes an option to save the MDF file as a SQL Server compatible script. The software can recover all the database items like Triggers, Functions, Indexes, Tables, Rules, Views, etc.

A Complete Steps to Restore SQL Database without Transaction Log file

1. Download and Run SQL Database Recovery Tool.
2. Click the Open button to attach the MDF files to the software.
3. Choose the recovery mode in case of corrupted files; otherwise, leave it.
4. Click Ok to start the scanning process of MDF files.
5. The tool shows you all the recovered database data in the preview panel.
6. After that, click the Save SQL Data button to restore the database data.
7. Choose the restoration options: SQL Server database or SQL Server compatible SQL script.
8. Enter the required credentials for your SQL server and test connection.
9. Click the Ok button to initiate the restoration process of SQL Server database data.

Conclusion

Above described methods will definitely help you to Restore SQL Database without the Transaction Log file. You can use either the manual or a professional method; both are tested and performed. However, we recommend you go for the SQL Database Recovery Tool, which allows users to restore corrupt or healthy MDF files to SQL Server using Windows or Server Authentication.

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