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 backup file problem

Author  Topic 

sunsanvin
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

1274 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-15 : 11:13:50
Hi All,
i took a full backup of my database with the name as dbname1506201006:30pm.bak

it said the backup completed successfully. but the backup file size is 0 kb. i updated the database with all the scripts.
if the busineess asks me to restore the backup,that is a big issue. why this has happend? what is the solution.

Arnav
Even you learn 1%, Learn it with 100% confidence.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-15 : 12:29:32
Well can you run a restore test to see if it is a valid file?

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

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nheidorn
Starting Member

28 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-15 : 18:05:31
I think your problem could be the colon character in the filename. Colon is a reserved character on most operating systems. I just tested it with Enterprise Manager on SQL Server 2000. It reported a successful backup, but the file was 0 bytes and everything after the colon was removed from the filename.
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-15 : 18:09:42
Good catch nheidorn!

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

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Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-15 : 18:29:10
"f the busineess asks me to restore the backup,that is a big issue."

If the business is running Full Recovery Model its not that important ... if you need to restore then you will be able to restore from an earlier Full Backup, and then all TLog backups since and up to the one AFTER you started running your script, and use the STOP AT command with the date/time just before you ran your script

If the business is NOT running Full Recovery Model ... well it jolly well should be!!
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GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-16 : 05:30:11
Assuming that the previous full and all the logs since are still available....

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP
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Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-16 : 06:17:58
Yes, I agree making a proper full backup before doing something "risky" is important ... but I was just meaning that there is probably a fall back in this case, if it becomes needed - lets hope not though!
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sunsanvin
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

1274 Posts

Posted - 2010-06-16 : 10:25:08
Thanks everyone....
for fallbak plan only i took the backup. God's grace nothing happend. good learning this one. For DBA people, : is the most dangerous.

Arnav
Even you learn 1%, Learn it with 100% confidence.
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jfay_dba
Starting Member

1 Post

Posted - 2012-03-29 : 07:32:52
quote:
Originally posted by sunsanvin

Thanks everyone....
for fallbak plan only i took the backup. God's grace nothing happend. good learning this one. For DBA people, : is the most dangerous.

Arnav
Even you learn 1%, Learn it with 100% confidence.



Arnav, your oroiginal question is a bit old, but I thought I'd share with the future googler's and binger's. On an NTFS file system, using a colon in a file name signifies an Alternate Data Stream. You could have recovered the backup by using notepad, the more command, or by using the Windows port of the Unix command "cat". Tested on Windows 7, Server 2003, 2008, 2008R2. There are also a number of tools to work with ADS... and from what I've heard, Powershell v3 has much more support for ADS.
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