Backup Database is Terminating Abnormally – Fix SQL Error 3013 Restore

SQL Server is used by many large organizations, and any error in SQL can be harmful to users. “Backup Database is Terminating Abnormally” error 3013 will appear on the user’s screen when they perform SQL database backup and restore. If you are one of the users who experienced the same problem, you do not have to worry. Here, we will provide the step-by-step process of how to fix SQL 3013 error manually or using SQL Server BAK File repair tool.

SQL Server Error 3013 Restore Database – Explained

Msg 3201, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
Cannot open backup device 'D:\Adventureworks.bak'. Operating system error 5(Access is denied.).
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

This is the error message a user might encounter when they come across SQL Server error code 3013. Now, we will take a look at a few reasons that lead to the occurrence of this error.

Common Causes For SQL Error 3013 – Know the Reasons

There can be many reasons for a 3013 error code in the SQL database. Here is a list of some reasons why users need to restore database is terminating abnormally after the error.

• Failed the medium in which the data backup was stored.
• Write function failing during the backup process.
• Network issues or connection loss during the process.
• Disk space issue for the location where the backup file is saved.

Apart from these reasons, there can be several technical issues & errors like exclusive access not obtained database use, SQL error 3417, etc. In order to resolve this ‘restore headeronly is terminating abnormally’ error & other similar issues, simply go through both the manual & automated solutions. However, when it comes to resolving errors that can possibly lead to data loss in the databases, it is always optimal to go for professional solutions as they ensure a safe error resolution without risking data integrity.

SQL Error 3013 Restore Database is Terminating Abnormally – Error Versions

The error 3013 depends on the SQL versions; you may receive different messages when encountering the error.

• MS SQL Server 7.0– SQL database error 3013 occurs when you create a clustered index on each group of files in the table.
• SQL Server 2000– If the database whose volume is less than 2 GB is already available and you are trying to save another database whose volume is larger than the existing volume, the result is error 3013 in SQL Server.
• SQL Server 2005– A 3013 error occurs when the backup administrator attempts to restore data files and log files together in a single instance of time.

Fix Backup Database is Terminating Abnormally Error Manually

Method 1. Check Security Permissions

First, you need to check the security permissions of the users by following the instructions below:

1. Go to the location where you saved .bak file
2. Right-click on the backup and select Properties
3. Now, click on Security tab and check the Deny permission for Authenticated Users
4. Click on Edit and deselect Deny Option
5. Click OK to end the process & solve restore database is terminating abnormally issue.

Method 2. Delete The Device

In order to fix the SQL Server 3013 error restore database, you must delete the existing backup to create a new backup to the backup device. Follow the mentioned command to perform the task:

BACKUP DATABASE mydatabase TO DISK='C:\MyDatabase.bak' with FORMAT

Note:- Backup your SQL Server database before deleting or erasing your data.

Method 3. Run Query Analyzer

If the error 3013 Backup Database is Terminating Abnormally occurs during a restore operation, you may be able to retrieve other backup sets from the device by specifying the file number. Run the following command to restore the backup from the Query Analyzer.

RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK='C:\MyDatabase.bak'

In order to specify a specific database backup set, run the following query:

RESTORE DATABASE mydatabase FROM DISK='C:\MyDatabase.bak WITH FILE = FileNumber

Note- File number is the number of the backup set that you want to restore.

Quick Solution to Restore SQL Database From BAK File

If the SQL Server error 3013 is still not fixed using the manual approaches, then there is a higher possibility that the backup file might be corrupted. If that’s the case, it will restrict the users and database administrators from resolving the error and restoring backup files for the same purpose. Hence, in such scenarios, it is always optimal to choose a dedicated SQL Backup Recovery tool.

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This is an advanced software that effectively helps repair corrupt SQL .bak files and also restore repaired data into a SQL Server Database. The working of the tool is very simple and easy to use, even for non-technical users. It supports all versions of SQL Server, including the latest ones such as SQL Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, etc.

How to Repair Corrupt .BAK File And Restore in SQL Server Professionally?

To recover a corrupted SQL Server backup file and restore the repaired data from .bak file, follow the mentioned steps:

Step-1. Download and launch the suggested software. Click on the Open button and then browse to load .bak file.

Step-2. Select a version of the SQL Server backup file.

Step-3. Click on the Multiple Backup File Options to recover and restore multiple .bak files.

Step-4. Click on the Recover option, and once the recovery process is completed, the tool displays a preview of all recovered data items.

Step-5. Now, click on the Export option to proceed & fix backup database is terminating abnormally.

Step-6. Choose the Export option between Export to SQL Server Database and SQL Server Compatible Scripts. After that fill all the required details.

Step-7. If you want to restore SQL BAK file to new database, then select Create New Database option. Otherwise, select Export to Existing Database option.

Step-8. Choose Export with only schema or Export with schema & data option as per your requirement.

Step-9. Click on the Export button to start restoring the SQL Server database from the BAK file. This way users can finally fix their SQL error 3013 smartly. After this, your restore headeronly is terminating abnormally issue can be easily solved.

Also Read: Critical Difference Between Nolock and With Nolock In SQL Server

Final Words

In the above discussion, we explained the manual, as well as the smart solution, to fix the backup database terminating abnormally (SQL Server error 3013) during restore database. Here, we mentioned three manual tricks to fix the SQL Server Database error 3013.

Sometimes, the manual process does not resolve the error; therefore, we recommend the SQL BAK File Repair tool. You can try both solutions and easily pick that suitable for you. Certainly, it’s quite common to face the restore database is terminating abnormally issue & it can be fixed with the right technique.