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- Check the SQL Server Error Log for the error that appears before 3013.
- Run DBCC CHECKDB to check database consistency.
- Check the SQL Server service account permissions on the backup destination.
- Check the available disk space and storage health.
- Verify the backup file with RESTORE VERIFYONLY.
- For error 9001, check why the database log is unavailable.
- For error 3266, inspect the backup media and backup set.
If the BAK file is corrupt, use a SQL backup recovery tool to extract and restore its data.
“BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally” error usually appears when SQL Server cannot complete a backup because of a database, transaction log, backup media, permission, storage, or I/O problem.
When a user interacts with Microsoft SQL Server, the chances that an error will appear on-screen are positive; this can happen for varying reasons, and finding the root cause that has led to such a situation is quite tricky and sometimes, impossible.
Every error that appears is accompanied by a unique error code, which helps to investigate the issue faster, as the same error could appear due to different reasons depending on the SQL Server version the user is running.
“BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally” error falls under the same case drafted above.
What Does “BACKUP DATABASE is Terminating Abnormally” Error Mean?
SQL Server displays this message when a BACKUP DATABASE operation stops before completion. Let’s understand this issue with an example:
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
Error 3013 does not identify one specific fault. It can appear with other errors related to database consistency, storage, backup media, permissions, I/O, or SQL Server components.
Therefore, do not treat error 3013 alone as the cause. Check the complete error message in SQL Server Management Studio and the SQL Server Error Log.
Why Does SQL Backup Database Terminate Abnormally?
- Database consistency errors: Damaged database pages or consistency issues can cause SQL Server backup failures.
- Transaction log unavailable: SQL Server cannot access the database log due to log or storage problems.
- Backup destination issues: Low disk space, incorrect permissions, or an unavailable backup path can stop the backup.
- Damaged backup media: An invalid or damaged BAK file can prevent SQL Server from reading backup data.
- I/O or storage failures: Disk errors, network interruptions, or storage connection problems can interrupt backup operations.
How to Fix “BACKUP DATABASE Is Terminating Abnormally”?
Apply the following troubleshooting methods until the error gets resolved
Method 1: Check the SQL Server Error Log
You can view the SQL Server Error Log through SQL Server Management Studio. Microsoft recommends the Error Log as a way to identify problems with backup and restore operations.
Method 2: Run DBCC CHECKDB
Run a consistency check on the affected database:
If the command returns consistency errors, do not assume that another backup will solve the problem.
For example, error 3043 can appear when SQL Server detects a database-page error during backup. Microsoft recommends `DBCC CHECKDB` and hardware investigation for this condition.
Method 3: Check SQL Server Service Account Permissions
Make sure the SQL Server service account has access to the backup destination. For a local backup, confirm that the account can write to the destination folder.
For Network Location, check: Shared permissions, NTFS permissions, Network availability, and Service account access.
Method 4: Check Disk Space and Storage Health
Check whether the destination has enough free space for the backup. Also check the storage device if SQL Server reports I/O errors.
If the backup fails with an I/O-related error, fixing the storage problem should come before another backup attempt.
Method 5: Check the Transaction Log for Error 9001
If the error includes:
The log for database ‘DatabaseName’ is not available.
Inspect the SQL Server Error Log and operating-system logs for the error that caused the log to become unavailable. Microsoft states that error 9001 does not explain the underlying cause by itself. Related errors can include storage and file-access errors.
Do not simply delete or recreate the LDF file. A transaction log is part of the database recovery process, so an improper change can make the situation worse.
Method 6: Verify the Backup File
If you already have a BAK file and suspect that it has a problem, inspect its backup sets.
Check backup headers
FROM DISK = ‘C:\Backup\Database.bak’;
This command can show the backup sets stored in the BAK file.
This command can show the backup sets stored in the BAK file.
Verify the backup
FROM DISK = ‘C:\Backup\Database.bak’;
Microsoft recommends these commands for checking backup sets and their usability when error 3266 appears.
Method 7: Restore a Specific Backup Set
A single BAK file can contain more than one backup set.
First, use:
FROM DISK = ‘C:\Backup\Database.bak’;
Check the `Position` value for the backup set you need. Then specify that position during restore:
FROM DISK = ‘C:\Backup\Database.bak’
WITH FILE = 1;
Replace `1` with the correct backup-set position.
It helps you when one BAK file contains multiple backup sets and one set has a problem.
Method 8: Recover Data When the BAK File Is Corrupt
If SQL Server cannot read a BAK file because its backup data is damaged or incorrectly formatted, native restore commands may not be enough.In this situation, Kernel SQL Backup Recovery tool can help extract database objects and data from the BAK file when normal restore attempts fail. The tool repair corrupt, damaged .bak files and recover their data in SQL Server or a batch file. The software even lets you view the entire BAF database for precise recovery before saving it.
Final Words
The “BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally* message does not point to one single problem. Error 3013 only tells you that the backup or restore operation stopped. The preceding SQL Server error usually provides the clue you need.
Go through the above-mentioned methods and try to troubleshoot this issue. If the BAK file itself has corruption and SQL Server cannot restore it, a dedicated SQL Backup Recovery tool can help extract the available database data.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Error 9001 means that the transaction log for the database is not available. Check the SQL Server Error Log and operating-system errors to identify why the log became unavailable.
A. Use `RESTORE VERIFYONLY` to verify the backup and `RESTORE HEADERONLY` to inspect its backup sets.
A. Yes, recovery may be possible with a professional SQL Backup Recovery tool when SQL Server cannot restore the BAK file through its standard restore process.
