Data restore help

The database server crashed and i am trying to restore database. I have all the mdf, ldf and bak files. I tried to attach, import and restore but nothing is working. It just gives this error,

TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
An Exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch (Microsoft.Sqlserver.ConnectionInfo)

Additional Information:
The media family on device 'D:\Databases\inv.bak' is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannont process this media family.
RESTORE HEADERONLY is terminating abnormally. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3241)

Anyone, please help.

Thanks

Subasis

Do you get the same error when you try to attach the database files (mdf & ldf)?|||The first thing I would do is run a RESTORE HEADERONLY and a RESTORE VERIFYONLY combination to check whether you have a valid backup|||

Hi TimDBA,

When i tried to attach file, it gave error 5171 (The given file is not a primary database file). As far as I know, it is the primary database file that was restored from data directory of MS SQL server directory.

Hope to get your response. Thanks

Subasis

|||

Hi bass_player

I tried as you've said using restore headeronly but it gave "The file is incorrectly formed and SQL server cannot process this media family'.

Thanks

Subasis