ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database

I faced this error message while opening my database, after restoring the database from a cold backup (OS level copy of all database files). I realized that when I backed up my database, it had flashback feature turned on and there was also a guaranteed restore point at the time I took the backup. And this time when I was trying to open this database, there were no old flashback logs available in fast recovery area.

SQL> startup ORACLE instance started. Total System Global Area 2421825536 bytes Fixed Size                  2230752 bytes Variable Size             637535776 bytes Database Buffers         1761607680 bytes Redo Buffers               20451328 bytes Database mounted. ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database

It was showing that flashback is on

SQL> select flashback_on from v$database; FLASHBACK_ON ------------------ YES

I tried to turn off the flashback, but it did not solve my problem.

SQL> alter database flashback off; Database altered. SQL> alter database open; alter database open * ERROR at line 1: ORA-38760: This database instance failed to turn on flashback database SQL> select flashback_on from v$database; FLASHBACK_ON ------------------ RESTORE POINT ONLY

Only option left this time was to drop the restore point and try to open the database, but again no luck and I was not even able to query v$restore_point because flashback logs were not available

SQL> select * from v$restore_point; select * from v$restore_point               * ERROR at line 1: ORA-38701: Flashback database log 1 seq 1 thread 1: "/u01/app/oracle/fast_recovery_area/DBMASK/flashback/o1_mf_c4xj2hrd_.flb" ORA-27037: unable to obtain file status Linux-x86_64 Error: 2: No such file or directory Additional information: 3

Here RMAN helped me because I can use RMAN to list my restore points.

RMAN> list restore point all; using target database control file instead of recovery catalog SCN              RSP Time  Type       Time      Name ---------------- --------- ---------- --------- ---- 2166299                    GUARANTEED 20-NOV-15 FRESH

Now I dropped this restore point and then I was able to open my database.

SQL> drop restore point fresh; Restore point dropped. SQL> alter database open; Database altered.