How to Restore a SQL Database Using Point-in-Time Recovery

Last update on September 25 2025 07:23:40 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Restoring a Database Using Point-in-Time Recovery

Write a SQL query to restore a database to a specific point in time using transaction log backups.

Solution:

-- Restore the transaction log backup to a specific point in time.
RESTORE LOG MyDatabase
FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\MyDatabase_Log.trn'
WITH STOPAT = '2023-10-01T12:00:00', RECOVERY;

Explanation:

Purpose of the Query :

The goal is to demonstrate how to restore a database to a specific point in time using transaction log backups.

Key Components :

WITH STOPAT: Specifies the exact point in time to restore to.
WITH RECOVERY: Brings the database online after restoration.

Why Use Point-in-Time Recovery?:

Point-in-time recovery ensures precise restoration to a specific moment, minimizing data loss.
It is critical for recovering from accidental deletions or updates.

Real-World Application :

In e-commerce systems, point-in-time recovery restores orders to their state before an error occurred.

Notes:

Ensure transaction log backups are available for the desired time range.
Test point-in-time recovery procedures regularly.
Validate timestamps to avoid errors.

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

Write a SQL query to restore a database named "SalesDB" to a specific point in time before an accidental deletion occurred.
Write a SQL query to restore a database named "HRDatabase" to a specific timestamp using transaction log backups.
Write a SQL query to restore a database named "InventoryDB" to a point in time just before a critical update was applied.
Write a SQL query to restore a database named "FinanceDB" to a specific transaction marked in the transaction log backups.

Go to:

PREV : Creating a Transaction Log Backup.
NEXT : Verifying the Integrity of a Backup File.

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