How to fix Error 4332 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: RESTORE LOG Error 4332 in SQL Server 2025

Why This Error Happens

Error 4332 occurs when SQL Server detects a break in the Log Sequence Number (LSN) chain, meaning the transaction log backup being restored does not logically follow the last restored backup. This typically happens when a log backup is skipped, restored out of order, or when the database recovery path has been interrupted by an intervening full backup taken outside the restore sequence. It can also occur if the backup file itself is corrupted or was truncated during transfer to the Windows Server 2025 host.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Verify the Backup Sequence and LSN Chain

  • Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and run RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\YourFile.trn' to inspect FirstLSN and LastLSN values.
  • Compare these values against the RedoStartLSN of your last successfully restored backup using RESTORE HEADERONLY on the prior file in the chain.
  • Confirm there are no missing .trn files between the full backup and the log backup you are attempting to restore.

Step 2: Restart the Restore Sequence from a Valid Full Backup

  • Drop the partially restored database or use RESTORE DATABASE [YourDB] WITH RECOVERY only if you intend to stop the sequence here permanently.
  • If continuing, start over with RESTORE DATABASE [YourDB] FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\Full.bak' WITH NORECOVERY, REPLACE.
  • Apply each subsequent differential and log backup in strict chronological order using WITH NORECOVERY until the final file.

Step 3: Check File Integrity and Transfer Method

  • Validate the backup file was not corrupted during copy by running RESTORE VERIFYONLY FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\YourFile.trn'.
  • If files were moved between Windows Server 2025 and another host, re-copy using robocopy with the /J flag to avoid buffering corruption: robocopy D:\Source D:\Dest YourFile.trn /J.
  • Confirm NTFS permissions on the backup folder grant the SQL Server service account (e.g., NT Service\MSSQLSERVER) at least Read access.

Step 4: Rebuild the Maintenance Plan or Script Order

  • If using a SQL Agent Job or Maintenance Plan, inspect the step history in SSMS under SQL Server Agent > Jobs > View History to confirm log backups ran on schedule without gaps.
  • Correct any job scheduling overlap where a new full backup job may have fired before all log backups were applied downstream.
  • Re-sequence the restore script manually if automated tools (like Ola Hallengren’s scripts) skipped a file due to a locked path.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • After completing the restore chain, run RESTORE DATABASE [YourDB] WITH RECOVERY and confirm the database state changes to ONLINE via SELECT state_desc FROM sys.databases WHERE name = 'YourDB'.
  • If the LSN chain is unrecoverable due to a missing log file, your only alternative is to restore from the last known good full or differential backup and accept data loss up to that point, then immediately start a new backup chain going forward.