What Happens If You Lost a Data File?

by **Micheal** Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:27 pm

After you shuting down an Oracle database, you accidently deleted a data file from the operating system. If you try to start the database again you will get error when Oracle tries to open the database after mounting the database. The following tutorial examples shows you what will happen if the data file c:\temp\my_space.dbf is deleted. Oracle can still start the database instance and mount the database. But it will fail on openning the database as shown below in a SQL*Plus session:
>sqlplus /nolog
SQL> connect SYSTEM/fyicenter AS SYSDBA
SQL> STARTUP
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 100663296 bytes
Fixed Size 1285956 bytes
Variable Size 58720444 bytes
Database Buffers 37748736 bytes
Redo Buffers 2908160 bytes
Database mounted.
ORA-01157: cannot identify/lock data file 5 - see DBWR trace file
ORA-01110: data file 5: 'C:\TEMP\MY_SPACE.DBF'
SQL> SHUTDOWN;
ORA-01109: database not open
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.