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You must perform a full database backup before you back up the transaction log for a database in SQL Server 2005 and in SQL Server 2000

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Article ID:928317
Last Review:November 20, 2007
Revision:1.4

SUMMARY

Before you try to back up the transaction log for a database in Microsoft SQL Server 2005, you must perform a full database backup. Otherwise, you receive error messages that indicate that the BACKUP LOG statement stops abnormally. You must also perform a full database backup before you try to back up the transaction log for a database in Microsoft SQL Server 2000. However, if you do not perform a full database backup before you back up the transaction log of a database in SQL Server 2000, the BACKUP LOG statement does not stop.

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INTRODUCTION

This article describes that you must perform a full database backup before you back up the transaction log for a database of SQL Server.

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MORE INFORMATION

In SQL Server 2005, you must perform a full database backup before you back up the transaction log for a database. Otherwise, when you try to back up the transaction log for a database, you receive the following error message:
Msg 4214, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
BACKUP LOG cannot be performed because there is no current database backup.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.
Additionally, messages that resemble the following are logged in the SQL Server Errorlog file:
2006-10-10 11:16:05.63 spid52 Starting up database 'SampleDatabase'.
2006-10-10 11:16:05.92 spid52 Setting database option RECOVERY to FULL for database SampleDatabase.
2006-10-10 11:16:06.41 Backup Error: 3041, Severity: 16, State: 1.
2006-10-10 11:16:06.41 Backup BACKUP failed to complete the command BACKUP LOG SampleDatabase. Check the backup application log for detailed messages.
In SQL Server 2000, if you try to back up a transaction log before you back up the full database, you only receive a warning message that resembles the following:
The CREATE DATABASE process is allocating 0.63 MB on disk 'SampleDatabase'.
The CREATE DATABASE process is allocating 0.49 MB on disk ' SampleDatabase_log'.
There is no current database backup. This log backup cannot be used to roll forward a preceding database backup.
Processed 1 pages for database ' SampleDatabase ', file ' SampleDatabase_log' on file 1. BACKUP LOG successfully processed 1 pages in 0.145 seconds (0.007 MB/sec).
Additionally, a successful backup is reported in the SQL Server Errorlog file. The text in the log file resembles the following:
2006-10-10 11:11:04.31 spid51 Starting up database ' SampleDatabase '.
2006-10-10 11:11:04.80 backup Log backed up: Database: SampleDatabase, creation date(time): 2006/10/10(11:11:04), first LSN: 8:23:1, last LSN: 8:25:1, number of dump devices: 1, device information: (FILE=1, TYPE=DISK: {'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP\TestTlog.trn'}).
The warning message indicates that you cannot use this transaction log backup for any restore operations if you do not have a full database backup.

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REFERENCES

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web sites:
Backing up and restoring databases in SQL Server
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187048.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187048.aspx)

How to: Create a full database backup (Transact-SQL)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191304.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191304.aspx)

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APPLIES TO
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard X64 Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition for Itanium-based Systems
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise X64 Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
•Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Personal Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Workgroup Edition

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Keywords: 
kbtshoot kbexpertiseadvanced kbsql2005engine kbinfo KB928317

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