subject: Tips to Repair "ORA-00376: file xx cannot be read..." [print this page] Tips to Repair "ORA-00376: file xx cannot be read..."
Data saved in the Oracle database components is saved in hierarchical format and at four different levels-Tablespace, Segments, Extents, and Blocks. Corruption at any level results in unmountability of your database, further resulting in inaccessibility of database records. The most common level at which corruption occurs is at initial level (Tablespace). Few main reasons for corruption could be improper system shutdown, simultaneous modification, and human mistakes. In order to overcome a tablespace corruption scenario, restore the database from a 'standby database'. However, if no backup of your database exists or backup itself is corrupted, then you will need to repair the logically damaged database using advanced third-party Oracle Database Recovery application.
To explain the above scenario, consider the below error message:
"ORA-00376: file xx cannot be read at this time"
The above error message appears at the time of mounting your database. After the above error message pops up, the database records become inaccessible. Furthermore, the same error message pops up every time you try to mount your database.
Cause
The root cause for the occurrence of the above error message is corruption in UNDO tablespace.
Resolution
To get past the above error message and to access the database records, you need to take underneath actions:
Change the value of undo_management parameter to 'MANUAL'. The default value for this parameter is 'AUTO'.
Create a new UNDO tablespace and drop the corrupted tablespace.
In most cases the 'Instance' gets started after following the above steps. However, if the database remains unmountable and you encounter the above error message, then follow the below measures:
Use a Standby database and perform restoration.
However, in case of absence of a valid backup, use a powerful oracle database repair software. Such Oracle Recovery tools use powerful recovery mechanisms to repair every corrupted Oracle database, regardless of its cause of corruption. The read only software is competent enough to recover all Oracle database objects like tablespace, tables, and triggers.
Stellar Phoenix Oracle Recovery v1.0 is a safe alternative to repair Oracle 9i database and restore it at default or new location. Compatible with Windows 2003 and XP, the tool is built with interactive user-interface that makes it self-explanatory. The read only oracle database recovery tool performs recovery without deleting or modifying the original records saved in the database.
