What is SQL Server Error 9004? Explained

Coming across any error is like a nightmare to the database administrators. Some errors in the database, like the SQL Server Error 9004, are quite complex to understand and further to resolve by the users. This write-up will help you to understand the error thoroughly and also find the top methods that can help to fix the error in a much more convenient way. 

Let’s begin by learning more about what the error is and what are the reasons that lead to the error.

SQL Server Error 9004 & Its Causes

This error is a transactional log error and it signifies that the SQL Server is unable to properly access the log files of the database or cannot write the transaction log of the database. This can happen due to various reasons. We have listed the common causes of the error for a clearer view of the error. 

• The most common reason for the error is the corruption in the log file of the SQL database. 
• Another reason for the error 9004 SQL Server is the missing, transferred, or renamed LDF file. 
• Improper shutdown or any unexpected power outage can also result in the occurrence of the error. 
• Permission issues and issues with disk I/O are also one of the potential reasons that lead to this SQL error. 

These are the possible causes of the error and due to these reasons the transaction log file of the database becomes inaccessible. To resolve this error, it is necessary for the database administrators to find the relevant solutions. We will now try the recommended ways that can help to resolve the error much more conveniently. 

Also Read: How to recover deleted data from SQL Log file efficiently?

How to Repair SQL Server Error 9004 Effectively?

There are a few solutions to resolve the error depending on the root cause. We will now discuss these solutions and implement them as per the users’ requirement. These methods are troubleshooting methods that might help in resolving the error but they do not guarantee complete recovery after the repair. 

Method 1: Check the SQL Server Error Logs to Fix the Error

The first method we are going to discuss is to check the error logs to find any relevant message right before the error occurred. With this, we can get a clearer idea of what must have caused the error and further resolve the error using the appropriate solutions. 

Once, you get the root cause for the SQL Server Error 9004, you can easily repair the database in no time.

Next, check the Log File status in the database to ensure that the log file is located in the right place. Also, check the following:

• The .ldf file of the specified database is in the right place. The given command will help you get the .ldf file location.
  SELECT name, physical_name FROM sys.master_files WHERE database_id = DB_ID(‘DbName’);
• SQL Server has all the required permissions to access and write the transaction logs of the database. 
• The disk having the SQL Server is online and has enough space to proceed with writing transactions. 

This is a troubleshooting method for one of the causes of the SQL Error 9004. This method will help you to fix the LDF file and get access again. Moving on to the next method, let’s see how the method will work and help to fix the error. 

Method 2: Run DBCC CHECKDB to Repair the Transaction Log File

If the database is accessible, it is efficient to run the DBCC CHECKDB command on the database to inspect for any errors. DBCC is a built-in tool provided by Microsoft SQL Server to detect any corruption or damage in the database. 

The way to run the DBCC command is specified below: 

DBCC CHECKDB(‘DBNAME’) WITH NO_INFOMSGS, ALL_ERRORMSGS;

Running this command will help you get the details about the error and further resolve it using the respective modes. 

Next, it is required to use a repair mode to repair the database log file. Follow the given command to rebuild the log file in the database.

DBCC CHECKDB (‘DBName’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS);

This method will help the user to delete the corrupted data from the database and further rebuild the log file. 

Let’s now move to the next method to resolve the error and learn how it will help to repair the database efficiently. We will now use a professional solution to resolve the error. Let’s learn more about this method and how it works. 

Method 3: Expert Solution to Fix SQL Server Error 9004

In this method, we will now use a professional tool to repair the LDF file of the SQL Server database. The solution we suggest is using the SQL Log Analyzer. This tool is capable of detecting any issues within the Log File of the SQL Server database and further repairing the issues seamlessly. 

Let’s take a look at how the tool is used and what the steps are to repair the .ldf file. 

1. Install and launch the automated solution. Choose one from the Online DB or Offline DB option.
2. Add database login credentials. After authenticating the database, the data will be loaded into it.
3. Preview the loaded transaction records of the database, and then click on the Export tab. 
4. Configure the required settings to recover and export the transaction records. 
5. Add the login details of the destination server and click on the Export button to repair the SQL error. 

These steps will help you to easily recover the LDF file and make it accessible again for further operations. Additionally, the tool also allows you to export the recovered data to the desired destination. 

Conclusion

With the help of this article, we have learned thoroughly about the SQL Server Error 9004. Additionally, we also discussed the possible causes of the error and the best ways that can to help resolve the error in a much efficient and seamless way. So, if you have encountered this transaction log error, you can refer to this manual to overcome the error and the challenges created by it.