RE: Recover an unrecoverable database

Thanks to all who replied. Although it did not ultimately help in recovering the db, it has been very educational.

After trying many approaches, the database would not open. The last little bit of research indicates that the ORA-00600 error has to do with the system being unable to make absolute and relative file numbers. I am taking this as a corruption in the data dictionary and pronouncing Last Rites on the db. I hate to give up, but there are too many other issues to deal with...

The lesson from all this...(for those who know me you've heard this many times before)...the only method of verifying a backup is to perform a successful recovery.

Dan

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 7:33 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

If I recall the original problem, you have a backup of the datafiles, and redologs, but no controlfiles. In that case, just specify all the datafiles and redologs (that are in the backup) in the "create controlfile..." statement.

The order does not matter, nor is the list required to be complete. Oracle will compare the file headers with the dictionary, and flag files you have not provided in the create controlfile as "missing". After the "create controlfile", recover database, and alter database open. Everything required for recovery is in the redologs, so a normal recovery is possible. No need for any underscore parameters -- they cause more problems.

>>> DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM 09/13/02 05:08a.m. >>>
Dan - When you say "recreate a control file" are you meaning the CREATE CONTROLFILE statement? If so, then in answer to that specific issue, the order of the datafiles does not matter. I do this regularly to create test databases and I've never worried about making the order the same. I have even left datafiles off and Oracle just flags those. That doesn't solve your overall problem, though.

Dennis Williams
DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com <mailto:dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com>

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 11:33 AM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

I've tried several approaches to the recovery. So far, no success. I have a feeling that this is a truly unrecoverable db (without having Oracle Field Support use their magic).

The main problem (in my mind) is that the current database physical structure (files and sizes) does not match the backup version, so I have no guide for creating a controlfile. When you recreate a controlfile, the files are listed in a specific order, which I presume matches the file# in sys.file$. So, if you don't know the proper order, the file information in the controlfile and data dictionary will be mismatched and thus the db cannot be opened. Right or wrong?

Thanks to all for the ideas and information.

Dan

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