Unable to restore differential backup

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pshroads@gmail.com - 12 Mar 2008 05:04 GMT

I am unable to restore a differential backup. I get the following
error:

"This differential backup cannot be restored because the database has
not been restored to the correct earlier state"

My backup sequence is as follows:

Full backup started at 2008-03-10 18:02:00
1st differential started at 2008-03-11 12:01:00
2nd differential started at 2008-03-11 08:15:42

There are transaction log backups taken every 5 minutes. There have
been no other full or differential backups.

I restored the full backup specifying NORECOVERY. Then I try and
restore the 2nd differential and get the above error.

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DDD - 12 Mar 2008 07:51 GMT

On Mar 12, 12:04 pm, pshro...@gmail.com wrote:

> I am unable to restore a differential backup. I get the following
> error:
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> I restored the full backup specifying NORECOVERY. Then I try and
> restore the 2nd differential and get the above error.

Because 2nd differential backup couldn't find its association Full
backup.

> 1st differential started at 2008-03-11 12:01:00

Why the second bakup started earlier than the 1st bakup?

> 2nd differential started at 2008-03-11 08:15:42

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pshroads@gmail.com - 12 Mar 2008 17:52 GMT

> > 1st differential started at 2008-03-11 12:01:00
>
> Why the second bakup started earlier than the 1st bakup?
>
> > 2nd differential started at 2008-03-11 08:15:42

The first backup is actually at midnight, not 12 PM, so it's before
the second backup.

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Tibor Karaszi - 12 Mar 2008 08:44 GMT

In addition to DDD's comments:

You probably have a full backup in between the full you restore and the diff you restored. That is
what the error message is telling you. I suggest you check the backup history tables in msdb to see
if such were performed.

Signature

Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi

>I am unable to restore a differential backup. I get the following
> error:
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> I restored the full backup specifying NORECOVERY. Then I try and
> restore the 2nd differential and get the above error.

Reply to this Message

pshroads@gmail.com - 12 Mar 2008 17:55 GMT

Tibor,

The backup history tables were a great suggestion. I was certain that
no other backups had been performed because I am the only person who
would have scheduled them.

It turns out that EMC Replication Manager which we use to create SAN
based snapshots of the database issues its own database backup as part
of the snapshot process.

Thanks!

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