10G Flashback-related Crash Scenario

Today, I created a crash scenario by deleting all the files (including the archives and backups) in the FLASH RECOVERY AREA (C:\oracle\flash_recovery_area) in in my test 10G database. After which, I was only able to mount the database. A "startup" or an "alter database open" gave the following error: "ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database".

Here, I will show how I worked around the problem, to get my database up and running.

SQL> select * from v$version;

BANNER
----------------------------------------------------------------
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Prod
PL/SQL Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
CORE    10.2.0.1.0      Production
TNS for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production

SQL> archive log list
Database log mode Archive Mode
Automatic archival Enabled
Archive destination USE_DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST
Oldest online log sequence 192
Next log sequence to archive 192
Current log sequence 194

SQL> show parameter rec
NAME TYPE VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
buffer_pool_recycle string
control_file_record_keep_time integer 7
db_recovery_file_dest string C:\oracle/flash_recovery_area
db_recovery_file_dest_size big integer 4G
db_recycle_cache_size big integer 0
ldap_directory_access string NONE
recovery_parallelism integer 0
recyclebin string on
use_indirect_data_buffers boolean FALSE

SQL> alter database open;
alter database open
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database

SQL> alter database flashback off;
Database altered.

SQL> alter database flashback on;
alter database flashback on
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-38706: Cannot turn on FLASHBACK DATABASE logging.
ORA-38714: Instance recovery required.

SQL> alter database open;
alter database open
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database

Usually at this point database should start. In our case, we need to check for Guaranteed Restore Point, and if it exists then we need to drop it.

SQL> select NAME, SCN, GUARANTEE_FLASHBACK_DATABASE, DATABASE_INCARNATION# from v$restore_point;
NAME SCN GUA DATABASE_INCARNATION#
---------- ---------- --- ---------------------
A 4073278 YES 2

SQL> DROP RESTORE POINT A;
Restore point dropped.

SQL> select NAME, SCN, GUARANTEE_FLASHBACK_DATABASE, DATABASE_INCARNATION# from v$restore_point;
no rows selected

SQL> alter database open;
Database altered.

SQL> show sga
Total System Global Area 314572800 bytes
Fixed Size 1248768 bytes
Variable Size 79692288 bytes
Database Buffers 226492416 bytes
Redo Buffers 7139328 bytes