Re: Applying tranaction log to old data file

> 
> You should be able to backup the transaction log using the TRUNCATE_ONLY
> option even if the data file(s) is unavailable.
> 
DO NOT DO TRUNCATE ONLY - YOU WILL LOOSE YOUR LOGS FOR GOOD!!!!!!!

The procedure you need is in 3 parts:-

Firstly you need to dump the 24gb transaction log - ie take it out of the
database onto a file system file. Read up on "dump tran...no_truncate".
This will work even if the data is stuffed as long as the log is intact.

Secondly you use you old dump from yonks ago to reset up the database. If
the disks are ok you can just use "load database"

Thirdly you apply the transaction log that you saved in the first step.
read
up on "load tran"

The secret is in the planning of the recovery. If you've got space you can
create a whole new databse and do the recovery to that and when you are
happy rename the databases and cycle the server.