Error "ORA-00205: error in identifying control file, check alert log for more info"

Products

• Data Loss Prevention Oracle Standard Edition 2
• Data Loss Prevention
• Data Loss Prevention Enforce

Issue/Introduction

The error "ORA-00205: error in identifying control file, check alert log for more info" occurs when starting the database after a database restore.

Due to some failed Windows server patches the database and Enforce had to be restored.
The Enforce and database are on the same Windows Server 2019.

Using the steps in this link (Restoring_an_Existing_Database_on_Windows) after running the "startup" command the ORA-00205 error was displayed.

 

 

Environment

Release: Oracle 19c and DLP 

Component: Database

Resolution

This resolution is beyond the scope of our support but has worked to resolve this issue.

1. Check that all control files are online and that they are the same files that were created during the cold backup.
2. Shut down the database if it is not already down.
3. Create the pfile from the spfile with this command:

     SQL> create pfile from spfile;

4. Look for the newly created "init<SDI>.ora" pfile in the %ORACLE_HOME\database directory.
5. Edit that pfile to correct the control file locations.
6. Finally run this command;

     SQL> create spfile from pfile;

 

Note: If you have changed the datafile locations, you have to rename the datafiles in mount mode.