Trek

SQL database rescue tool for damaged databases that cannot be exported by traditional methods

Deprecated: This project has reached End-of-Life (EOL) / End-of-Support (EOS). No longer supported or updated.

Trek

Trek is a SQL database rescue tool designed for situations where database damage prevents export using traditional methods. It provides both SQL dump and raw database file backup/restore capabilities.

Overview

Trek offers two approaches to database backup and recovery:

DUMP Mode

Export/import MySQL databases in .sql format using mysqldump

RAW Mode

Copy raw database files from \mysql\data folders using Robocopy

Download

File	OS	Size
trek.exe (.zip)	Windows 7/10 x86 x64	3.6 MB

Installation

1. Prepare System

   1. Disable Antivirus, Antimalware, and SmartScreen temporarily
   2. Close all applications
   3. Verify system date and time are correct
2. Extract and Run

   1. Unzip trek.exe (.zip) to your desktop
   2. Double-click the executable
   3. Accept privileged execution when prompted
3. Select Mode

   Choose between DUMP or RAW mode based on your needs.

   

DUMP Mode

Backup

Backup Database

Export a database to .sql format.

Steps:

1. Click BACKUP button
2. Enter MySQL connection details:
   • Username
   • Password
   • Database name
3. Wait for export to complete
4. Check error.txt for any issues

Output location:
c:\TrekDump\dbname_YYYY_MM_DD_HH_MM_SS.sql

Restore

Restore Database

Import a database from .sql file.

Steps:

1. Click RESTORE button
2. Select the .sql file location

3. Enter MySQL connection details:
   • Username
   • Password
   • Target database name

4. Wait for import to complete

DUMP Mode Requirements

Important: MySQL service must be running before using DUMP options.

User Permissions

Create a MySQL user with maximum privileges. Do not use the root user.

CREATE USER 'backup_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'backup_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

File Size Limits

If importing large .sql files, you may encounter:

ERROR 2006 (HY000) at line NUMBER: MySQL server has gone away

Solution: Increase the max_allowed_packet parameter in my.cnf or my.ini:

max_allowed_packet = 100M

File Naming

• The .sql file must not contain spaces or special characters
• Use underscores instead: my_database_backup.sql

Database Creation

Trek handles database creation intelligently:

• If .sql file contains CREATE DATABASE, existing database is preserved
• Otherwise, Trek creates the database automatically

A database already exists in the file: dbfile.sql
The database will not be created: dbname
# or
There is no database in the file: dbfile.sql
The database will be created: dbname

Password Warning

MySQL displays a warning because the password is entered on the command line:

This is expected behavior and can be safely ignored.

RAW Mode

Copies raw MySQL database files from \mysql\data to %HOMEDRIVE%\TrekRAW using Windows Robocopy.

RAW Mode Process

1. Select MySQL Folder

   Browse to your MySQL installation folder.

   

   Common MySQL paths:

   Wamp: \wamp64\bin\mysql\mysql(version)
   Xamp: \xampp\mysql
   UZero: \UniServerZ\core\mysql
   MySQL Server (zip): \mysql\mysql(version)
   MySQL Community: \Program Files\MySQL\MySQL(version)
   
2. Run Backup or Restore

   • BACKUP: Copies from MySQL data folder to c:\TrekRAW
   • RESTORE: Copies from c:\TrekRAW to MySQL data folder
3. Check Results

   Review the Trek.txt file on your desktop for operation details.

4. Restart MySQL

   Manually start the MySQL Server service after completion.

RAW Mode Important Notes

Critical Limitations:

• Do not migrate databases with different structures
• SSL-related files (*.pem) are excluded and may cause access issues
• Uses Robocopy which has limitations
• Use at your own risk

SSL Certificate Warning:

RAW mode excludes SSL certificate files (.pem) because they are unique to each installation. After RESTORE, you may have issues accessing encrypted content.

More information

TrekRAW Folder

The TrekRAW folder is automatically created at:

c:\TrekRAW

All backup and restore operations work within this folder.

Supported Stacks

Trek works with all major Windows-based MySQL stacks:

WampServer

Full WAMP stack support

XAMPP

Complete XAMPP compatibility

Uniform Server

UniServerZ support

Also supports:

• MySQL Server (no-install .zip package)
• MySQL Community Server

Tools Used

Trek leverages proven Windows and MySQL tools:

• MySQL Dump - Official MySQL backup utility
• Robocopy - Windows robust file copy utility
• WinZenity - GUI dialog interface
• 7zSFX Builder - Self-extracting archive creation

Use Cases

Database Corruption Recovery

When MySQL databases are corrupted and standard tools fail, Trek’s RAW mode can copy the underlying data files for recovery attempts.

Quick Migration

RAW mode provides fast database migration between identical MySQL versions without going through dump/restore.

Emergency Backup

When normal backup tools are unavailable or failing, Trek provides an alternative backup method.

Offline Database Transfer

Copy databases without requiring MySQL to be running (RAW mode only).

Troubleshooting

DUMP Mode Issues

Problem	Solution
Server gone away	Increase max_allowed_packet in my.cnf/my.ini
Permission denied	Create user with full privileges
Database not found	Check database name spelling
Connection failed	Verify MySQL service is running

RAW Mode Issues

Problem	Solution
Files locked	Stop MySQL service before operation
Permission denied	Run Trek with administrator privileges
Incomplete copy	Check disk space and permissions
SSL errors after restore	Regenerate SSL certificates or disable SSL

Best Practices

Always Test

Test backups on a separate system before relying on them for production recovery

Verify Backups

Always verify backup integrity by testing restoration

Document Versions

Keep track of MySQL versions for RAW mode compatibility

Regular Backups

Don’t wait for emergencies - establish regular backup schedules

Deprecated Tool: While Trek still works, consider modern backup solutions for production environments. Trek is best suited for emergency recovery scenarios.