The backup data at the end of "path\backup" is incorrectly formatted

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The backup data at the end of "path\backup" is incorrectly formatted

Adam Bean

One Orange Chip

Points: 26631
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November 5, 2008 at 6:20 am

#383309

Hey all,
At a loss here ... my backups against this particular instance have been running great for almost a year, and as of this last week, I am continually failing every night with the same error:
Msg 3266, Sev 16, State 1, Line 2 : The backup data at the end of "path\backup" is incorrectly formatted. Backup sets on the media might be damaged and unusable. To determine the backup sets on the media, use RESTORE HEADERONLY. To determine the usability of the backup sets, run RESTORE VERIFYONLY. If all of the backup sets are incomplete, reformat the media using BACKUP WITH FORMAT, which destroys all the backup sets. [SQLSTATE 42000]
Msg 3013, Sev 16, State 1, Line 2 : BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally. [SQLSTATE 42000]
I come in and resolve the issue by taking a new backup with format, run an additional test backup which works fine ... but then come my nightly scheduled backups, this happens yet again. Unsure what is causing this to continually happen.
Thanks

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Elisabeth Rédei Hall of Fame Points: 3873 More actions · Answer 1

Hi Adam,

Because it is usually a problem with the media as such, did you try to do what the message tells you to do ? (obviously I don't know how your handle you backups so you might need to do copy things else where first).

There is more information in "Error message when you perform a database backup to disk or tape or a database restore from disk or tape: "3266," "3013"", http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290787.

HTH!

/Elisabeth

elisabeth@sqlserverland.com
MCITP | MCT
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/elisabeth_redei/
http://linkedin.com/in/elisabethredei

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734416 More actions · Answer 2

Are you backing up to disk or tape?

Are you using devices or files?

Do you go to the same set every day? (not recommended)

Adam Bean One Orange Chip Points: 26631 More actions · Answer 3

Backing up to disk. Not using devices. I overwrite the same file everyday (soon to change actually).

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734416 More actions · Answer 4

I would try a new file. You might have some bad blocks in there. The disk should handle it, but using the same file might cause issues. Have you tried deleting the file completely and then doing the format?

Adam Bean One Orange Chip Points: 26631 More actions · Answer 5

That I have ... I removed the file yesterday and created a new backup manually, worked like a champ. Then the nightly blew up.

I repeated the same process today, but I'm also running a defrag on the drive for S&G's ...

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734416 More actions · Answer 6

Very strange. Can you set this up on a 2nd drive and see if the schedule works?

If you run the schedule now (if you can), does it fail?

Adam Bean One Orange Chip Points: 26631 More actions · Answer 7

Yeah that was my test yesterday and this morning ... I was able to back it up to another location without problem. I've never seen such odd behavior ... especially repetitive.

Elisabeth Rédei Hall of Fame Points: 3873 More actions · Answer 8

Hi Adam,

I am sorry if you already informed us but I didn't get it but did you try to redirect the SCHEDULED job to another disk?

/Elisabeth

elisabeth@sqlserverland.com
MCITP | MCT
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/elisabeth_redei/
http://linkedin.com/in/elisabethredei

Adam Bean One Orange Chip Points: 26631 More actions · Answer 9

Yes, I have pointed it at another location which worked just fine after doing a manual backup with format.

don.schaeffer Ten Centuries Points: 1195 More actions · Answer 10

Not sure this makes sense, but I received the "incorrectly formatted" error after I backed up databases with the same names on a different instance to the same location.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 11

Please note: 2 year old thread.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

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