The Scenario

A database administrator accidentally executed DROP DATABASE production on a live server. No recent backup was available, and the company faced potential loss of critical business data.

⚠️ Time is Critical

After DROP DATABASE, the files may still exist on disk until overwritten. Stop all database writes immediately and begin recovery.

Recovery Process

Step 1: Stop MySQL Immediately

systemctl stop mysql

Prevent any new writes that could overwrite the deleted data.

Step 2: Locate Deleted Files

MySQL removes the database directory, but data may still be recoverable from disk. Use file recovery tools or check if the files are still in the filesystem cache.

Step 3: Use DBRECOVER

If you can recover the .ibd files (even partially), DBRECOVER can extract the data:

  1. Launch DBRECOVER for MySQL
  2. Click "Scan Directory" and select the MySQL data directory
  3. DBRECOVER will detect any recoverable .ibd files
  4. Select the files from your dropped database
  5. Preview and export the data

Step 4: Reconstruct the Database

  1. Create a new database with the same name
  2. Import the recovered data using the exported SQL files
  3. Verify data integrity
  4. Rebuild indexes if necessary

Results

In this case study, DBRECOVER was able to recover 98% of the data from the dropped database, including all critical business tables. The remaining 2% was recent transaction data that had been overwritten.

Lessons Learned

  • Implement backup procedures - Regular, tested backups are essential
  • Use binary logging - Enables point-in-time recovery
  • Restrict DROP privileges - Only grant to trusted administrators
  • Use safe_updates mode - Prevents accidental mass changes
  • Keep DBRECOVER ready - Time is critical in disaster recovery