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Assistance Needed for Rolling Back Specific Transaction from SQL Server Log

Rahul Lohar 0 Reputation points
2025-09-09T12:18:31.7833333+00:00

Guidance is needed on recovering data from a specific transaction in SQL Server after an unintentional DELETE/UPDATE operation. The database is operating in Full Recovery Model with access to transaction log backups.

Understanding that SQL Server doesn't natively support rolling back a single committed transaction from the log without restoring to a previous point in time, it would be useful to know:

  • Does Microsoft provide any native tools or recommended practices for selectively undoing a committed transaction from the transaction log?
  • Is there any official documentation on utilizing transaction log backups for targeted recovery?
  • Are there limitations or risks to consider when attempting point-in-time restore or when using third-party tools?

Any assistance or direction would be greatly appreciated.

SQL Server Database Engine

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  1. Azar 30,735 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-09-09T17:19:31.3933333+00:00

    Hi there Rahul Lohar

    SQL Server has no native way to “undo one committed transaction” from the log. The supported path is a point-in-time restore to a time just before the bad DELETE/UPDATE, usually side-by-side to a new database, then copy/merge the corrected rows back into production. If the primary must be restored, take a tail-log backup, then restore full + diff + log backups with STOPAT to the target time. options like fn_dblog/fn_dump_dblog exist but are undocumented/unsupported; third-party log readers (ApexSQL, Redgate, etc.) can reconstruct undo scripts, but they also rely on internal log parsing and come with caveats (TDE/encryption keys needed, not all operations supported

    enable temporal tables, CDC, or Change Tracking so you can self-service logical recovery without log spelunking.

    If this helps kindly accept the response thanks much.

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