Restore Transaction log or the .bak

If there is inconsistency on the DB and I want to restore to a last known good state, should I restore the transaction log files which is backed up every hour or the .bak file which is backed up every night. Basically, what is the difference between the two? When should I use the Transaction log files? Thanks.This depends on when you what you want to do and when you database was last
consistant.
If the last consistant state was just after you last nightly full or
differential backups then you will not need any transaction log backups.
The transaction log allows you to restore up to a particular point in time
between your nightly full and/or differentials backups. If your requirement
is to restore your database to 8:36 AM today, then you will need to use the
last full backup, plus the closest differential (last nights, if there was
one) and then the 1 am, 2 am, 3, am, 4 am, 5 am, 6 am, 7 am, 8 am and 9 am
transaction logs to restore using the STOPAT. The STOPAT command allows you
to stop the restore process at 8:36 am.
What backups do you have and when where they taken? Also when was the last
time you knew for sure the database was consistant.
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"mmc" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AD0940C9-56AF-4851-88B0-CBC2AB05058E@.microsoft.com...
> If there is inconsistency on the DB and I want to restore to a last known
good state, should I restore the transaction log files which is backed up
every hour or the .bak file which is backed up every night. Basically, what
is the difference between the two? When should I use the Transaction log
files? Thanks.|||You need to read the BOL (Books On-Line) section on Backing up and Restoring
Databases located under Administering SQL Server. It is a bit long and
complex, but then the topic is somewhat complex and deserves a long
explanation.
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Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
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www.sqlpass.org
"mmc" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AD0940C9-56AF-4851-88B0-CBC2AB05058E@.microsoft.com...
> If there is inconsistency on the DB and I want to restore to a last known
good state, should I restore the transaction log files which is backed up
every hour or the .bak file which is backed up every night. Basically, what
is the difference between the two? When should I use the Transaction log
files? Thanks.