As SQL users or admins, we all know how important the transaction log is for each SQL database to function properly. Every database has a transaction log file that records each transaction taking place within it, including all modifications. If due to any reason, your system or SSMS gets crash, the server access this log file to recover the database or to bring the database online.
All common tasks in SQL server such as using a ROLLBACK statement, point-in-time recovery, replicating a database, andaccessing Always On Availability groups, require the transaction log file.
If the transaction log file is unavailable, damaged, corrupted, or missing, you may encounter “The SQL Server backup error 9001”. This error also comes along with various other SQL errors, like 3313, 9002, 17204, 3013, etc. This means that many other causes are also responsible for this error. In this article, we will know the causes and methods to resolve SQL Server fatal error 9001.
Causes of SQL Server Error 9001
The error 9001 can occur when server fails to access the transaction log file, which can happen due to one of the following reasons:
- Damaged transactional log file
- The storage device where the transaction log file is located is not available or it is failed
- SQL database file is encrypted
- The transaction log file is too large
- Your system is outof storage space
- The transaction log file reached its maximum specified size. (In this case, you will see SQL error 9002 prior to this error)
- Corruption in MDF/NDF file
- The AutoClose Property is enabled
- You lack permissions on the MDF/NDF and transaction log file
- BAK file is corrupted
Troubleshooting Methods to Resolve SQL Server Error 9001
In some situations, the SQL Server itself try to restart the database at run-time and perform self-recovery to resolve the SQL Server error 9001. If automatic database restarts failed, then to resolve this error, the initial step is to locate the SQL Server error log to find other issues associated with it. Doing this will help you find exact and more information about the error. Once you find the reason responsible for the SQL Server error 9001, follow the troubleshooting methods mentioned below.
Method 1-Disable AutoClose Property
If there is no activity on the database, it automatically shuts down and causes a “backup database is terminating abnormally” issue, leading to SQL Server error 9001. It usually happens if you want to use the database frequently, but the AutoClose property is set to ON. You can access the sys.database catalog view and then check the is_auto_close_on column. If it is enabled, then it returns a NULL value. To open the catalog view, run the command shown in image below:
You can simply turn the is_auto_close_on option to off by executing the following command:
alterdatabase [databse1] setAUTO_CLOSEOFF;
Method 2-Enable AutogrowthOption
As already mentioned, the SQL Server error 9001 often occurs when the transaction log file for the selected database is inaccessible or unavailable. It can occur if the transaction log file reaches its maximum specified size. In this case, you can also see SQL server error 9002, prior to this error. To resolve this, you can enable the Autogrowth option in SQL Server.
Method 3- Check the File you’re Trying to Open
The SQL Server error 9001 can occur if the log becomes unavailable at the time you try to open an encrypted or damaged MDF/NDF/BAK file. Make sure that you are not trying to open or restore encrypted file without correct certificates. You can also check the file permissions. And make sure you have read/write access to all database files. To confirm if the permissions are triggering this error, search for the Operating system error 5 access is denied in the error log.
Method 4- Rebuild Corrupt Transaction Log File
You can even try rebuilding the corrupt log file to resolve the SQL Server backup error 9001 to make the database accessible again to perform backup or other tasks. To rebuild the corrupt log file, you can try attaching the SQL database without a transaction log file.Here is the command you’re required to execute:
CREATE DATABASE testdb43 ON
(FILENAME = ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server..\MSSQL\DATA\testdb43.mdf’)
For ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG
GO
Method 5 – Repair your SQL Database Files
The SQL Server error 9001 can also occur if the SQL database files are corrupted or damaged. For database files, you can use the DBCC CHECKDB command to check the database health. If the MDF/NDF file is corrupted, then use the same command with the repair option to repair itby following the steps below:
- First, use the following command to open the inaccessible database in an emergency mode.
ALTER DATABASE [DbMON1] SET EMERGENCY
- Next, change the mode of the database to SINGLE_USER by using the below command:
ALTER DATABASE DbMON1 SET SINGLE_USER
- After that, use the DBCC CHECKDB command with the REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS repair option as given below:
DBCC CHECKDB (N ’DbMON1’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS, NO_INFOMSGS;
- Now, set the mode of database from SINGLE_USER to MULTI_USER by executing the below command:
ALTER DATABASE DbMON1 SET MULTI_USER
Note: The DBCC CHECKDB command can repair a corrupt SQL database file, but may not guarantee complete data integrity due to row and page deallocation.
The corrupt BAK file can cause SQL Server backup error 9001. To check the integrity of the backup file, you can use RESTORE STATEMENT- VERIFYONLY. If the backup file is corrupted, then use a professional tool to repair it.
Best Solution- Use Stellar Repair for MS SQL Technician
To repair and restore the corrupt backup file and to quickly repair SQL database (NDF/MDF) files, you can use a professional MS SQL database repair tool – Stellar Repair for MS SQL Technician. It can help repair MDF/NDF file and backup file with complete precision and without any file size limitations. Also, it supports repairing of backup file created in Differential, Full and Transaction log. It allows recovering all components of corrupt SQL database including deleted records from MDF/NDF/BAK file. You can save the repaired database in multiple formats including HTML and CSV.
You should consider this repair tool to resolve SQL Server error 9001 if,
- The transaction log file for a specified database is severely corrupted.
- The MS SQL database file is corrupted
- Backup file is corrupted
Conclusion
The reason behind the SQL Server error 9001 is simple – missing or corrupt transaction log file. Basic fixes like checking the file permissions, checking disk space, or reviewing logs are worth trying first.They can help you troubleshoot the error. If the database file is corrupted, then using a specialized solution, like Stellar Repair for MS SQL Technician, can help you repair and recover the SQL database file. It’s easy, safe, and designedexactly for addressing corruption-relatedsituations.
