The log or differential backup cannot be restored because no files are ready to rollforward

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Sometimes with restoring backups in SQL Server Database you may end up by getting this error:

Msg 3117, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The log or differential backup cannot be restored because no files are ready to rollforward.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

You may usually receive this error while restoring a Differential Backup, in a situation when you haven’t restored FULL Backup OR you have restored Full Backup without “WITH NORECOVERY” option.

SOLUTION:

All you need to do is First restore FULL Backup with NORECOVERY option then restore a differential backup with “RECOVERY” option.

A Simple example is given below:

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks FROM DISK = 'D:\AdventureWorks_Full.bak' WITH NORECOVERY RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks FROM DISK = 'D:\AdventureWorks_Diff.bak' WITH RECOVERY

This entry was posted in SQL Server.

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