Restore using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio?

Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
the following message:
Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
Additional Information:
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
obtained because the database is in use.
I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
processes before the restore is issued...
Anyway, thanks for any help
JimHi
It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check to
see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to logoff
properly.
John
"Jim Geurts" wrote:
> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
> the following message:
> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
> Additional Information:
> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
> obtained because the database is in use.
>
> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
> processes before the restore is issued...
> Anyway, thanks for any help
> Jim
>|||On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:41:02 -0700, John Bell
<jbellnewsposts@.hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hi
>It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
>restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check to
>see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to logoff
>properly.
>John
And don't forget to allow for it being yourself! 8-)
Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT|||I would first set the database to single-user mode or restricted user during
restore if you are encountering such errors
"John Bell" <jbellnewsposts@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:A29E8900-FD44-4493-84DD-CDCBB0D16F6D@.microsoft.com...
> Hi
> It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
> restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check to
> see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to logoff
> properly.
> John
> "Jim Geurts" wrote:
>> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
>> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
>> the following message:
>> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
>> Additional Information:
>> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
>> obtained because the database is in use.
>>
>> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
>> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
>> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
>> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
>> processes before the restore is issued...
>> Anyway, thanks for any help
>> Jim
>>|||On Oct 31, 10:04 am, "bass_player [SBS-MVP]" <bass_pla...@.mvps.org>
wrote:
> I would first set the database to single-user mode or restricted user during
> restore if you are encountering such errors
> "John Bell" <jbellnewspo...@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:A29E8900-FD44-4493-84DD-CDCBB0D16F6D@.microsoft.com...
> > Hi
> > It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
> > restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check to
> > see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to logoff
> > properly.
> > John
> > "Jim Geurts" wrote:
> >> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
> >> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
> >> the following message:
> >> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
> >> Additional Information:
> >> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
> >> obtained because the database is in use.
> >> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
> >> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
> >> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
> >> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
> >> processes before the restore is issued...
> >> Anyway, thanks for any help
> >> Jim
I tried setting the production db to single user mode in the past, but
then it wouldn't let me connect to restore the db. Honestly, there
has to be a simple way of doing this, no? This seems like a fairly
common task. I'm amazed that it's so difficult to have it work with a
click of a button, using the management studio. Is there a block of
sql that will accomplish everything that is needed (set to single user
mode, restore db, restore back to multi-user mode, etc)?|||On Oct 31, 9:55 am, Jim Geurts <jgeu...@.gmail.com> wrote:
> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
> the following message:
> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
> Additional Information:
> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
> obtained because the database is in use.
> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
> processes before the restore is issued...
> Anyway, thanks for any help
> Jim
Here is another one of the many ways:
Detach the Database. OR
Kill all conections in the Database and Run the Restore T-SQL(Use With
Replace) or thourgh Studio
How critical is this DB ( How many users are connected at one time ),
if not many users, sut them off(Kill) the then restoe the DB|||Hi
You should not be connected to the database to restore, if the database is
the default for your login it may be an issue connecting once you have a
database in single user mode and the "connection" is used. SQL2000 used to
have a disconnect button on the detach dialog which could be used to remove
connections but this is not available on SQL2005.
John
"Jim Geurts" wrote:
> On Oct 31, 10:04 am, "bass_player [SBS-MVP]" <bass_pla...@.mvps.org>
> wrote:
> > I would first set the database to single-user mode or restricted user during
> > restore if you are encountering such errors
> >
> > "John Bell" <jbellnewspo...@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >
> > news:A29E8900-FD44-4493-84DD-CDCBB0D16F6D@.microsoft.com...
> >
> > > Hi
> >
> > > It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
> > > restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check to
> > > see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to logoff
> > > properly.
> >
> > > John
> >
> > > "Jim Geurts" wrote:
> >
> > >> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
> > >> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
> > >> the following message:
> >
> > >> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
> >
> > >> Additional Information:
> > >> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
> > >> obtained because the database is in use.
> >
> > >> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
> > >> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
> > >> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
> > >> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
> > >> processes before the restore is issued...
> >
> > >> Anyway, thanks for any help
> >
> > >> Jim
> I tried setting the production db to single user mode in the past, but
> then it wouldn't let me connect to restore the db. Honestly, there
> has to be a simple way of doing this, no? This seems like a fairly
> common task. I'm amazed that it's so difficult to have it work with a
> click of a button, using the management studio. Is there a block of
> sql that will accomplish everything that is needed (set to single user
> mode, restore db, restore back to multi-user mode, etc)?
>|||You can use the toolbar button to script the restore that you are attempting
to do in SSMS. Then add to the top of that script the following command:
ALTER DATABASE [YourDB] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
After the backup place it back in Multi-user mode.
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
Solid Quality Mentors
"Jim Geurts" <jgeurts@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1193844965.038551.326520@.e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 31, 10:04 am, "bass_player [SBS-MVP]" <bass_pla...@.mvps.org>
> wrote:
>> I would first set the database to single-user mode or restricted user
>> during
>> restore if you are encountering such errors
>> "John Bell" <jbellnewspo...@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:A29E8900-FD44-4493-84DD-CDCBB0D16F6D@.microsoft.com...
>> > Hi
>> > It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
>> > restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check
>> > to
>> > see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to
>> > logoff
>> > properly.
>> > John
>> > "Jim Geurts" wrote:
>> >> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
>> >> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
>> >> the following message:
>> >> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
>> >> Additional Information:
>> >> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
>> >> obtained because the database is in use.
>> >> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
>> >> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
>> >> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
>> >> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
>> >> processes before the restore is issued...
>> >> Anyway, thanks for any help
>> >> Jim
> I tried setting the production db to single user mode in the past, but
> then it wouldn't let me connect to restore the db. Honestly, there
> has to be a simple way of doing this, no? This seems like a fairly
> common task. I'm amazed that it's so difficult to have it work with a
> click of a button, using the management studio. Is there a block of
> sql that will accomplish everything that is needed (set to single user
> mode, restore db, restore back to multi-user mode, etc)?
>|||On Oct 31, 12:40 pm, "Andrew J. Kelly" <sqlmvpnooos...@.shadhawk.com>
wrote:
> You can use the toolbar button to script the restore that you are attempting
> to do in SSMS. Then add to the top of that script the following command:
> ALTER DATABASE [YourDB] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
> After the backup place it back in Multi-user mode.
> --
> Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
> Solid Quality Mentors
> "Jim Geurts" <jgeu...@.gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1193844965.038551.326520@.e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> > On Oct 31, 10:04 am, "bass_player [SBS-MVP]" <bass_pla...@.mvps.org>
> > wrote:
> >> I would first set the database to single-user mode or restricted user
> >> during
> >> restore if you are encountering such errors
> >> "John Bell" <jbellnewspo...@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >>news:A29E8900-FD44-4493-84DD-CDCBB0D16F6D@.microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi
> >> > It seems that someone is using the database and therefore stopping you
> >> > restoring over it. Look at the current activity on the server and check
> >> > to
> >> > see who is connected. You can either kill the process of get the to
> >> > logoff
> >> > properly.
> >> > John
> >> > "Jim Geurts" wrote:
> >> >> Can someone help me with restoring a database using sql server
> >> >> management studio? Every time I attempt to restore a database, I get
> >> >> the following message:
> >> >> Restore failed for Server 'localhost\SQLExpress'.
> >> >> Additional Information:
> >> >> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Exclusive access could not be
> >> >> obtained because the database is in use.
> >> >> I have no problem restarting the db server locally, but in a
> >> >> production environment where the db is shared, I cannot restart it.
> >> >> How can I restore a db successfully using the management studio?
> >> >> Perhaps MS should add a checkbox to the restore dialog that kills all
> >> >> processes before the restore is issued...
> >> >> Anyway, thanks for any help
> >> >> Jim
> > I tried setting the production db to single user mode in the past, but
> > then it wouldn't let me connect to restore the db. Honestly, there
> > has to be a simple way of doing this, no? This seems like a fairly
> > common task. I'm amazed that it's so difficult to have it work with a
> > click of a button, using the management studio. Is there a block of
> > sql that will accomplish everything that is needed (set to single user
> > mode, restore db, restore back to multi-user mode, etc)?
Cool, thanks Andrew. I'll give that a shot.
@.Maninder: The database server is very critical. It's at a hosting
provider and is shared with many other users. Thus, my login defaults
to my database and as John mentioned, that's probably why it always
says someone is connected. As far as my specific db, there are
usually only two or three applications that access it.

Restore Sql Express (2005) to Sql Server 2000

Well, my understanding is this should be possible and easy -- use a backup created by Sql Express (via Management Studio Express), copy the backup to the Sql 2000 server, select Database Restore through EM, specify Restore from Device, point to the Sql Express generated backup file as the *only* device, and launch.

Doesn't work.

When I launch the restore, I get the following error dialog:

Too many backup devices for backup or restore. Only 64 are allowed. <yada-yada> .... OK

Only got one backup device selected. Is this possible or not?

I have resorted to sql script generation with data in the past, but that's taxes the server resources heavily.

TIA,

Rick

No ... its not possible.. you can't restore SQL Server 2005 backup in SQL Server 2000. You may follow these steps

(a) Create Script of Database Objects from 2005

(c) Create new database in sql server 2000

(d) run the objects script in 2000

(e) use DTS to transfer data from 2005 to 2000

Madhu

|||Thanks. I assume you have to use DTS provided with full blown Sql Server 2005 (which ain't provided with SqlExpress)?
|||

Yes , SSIS(DTS of 2005) is not provided with Express edition. you can use sql server 2000 DTS and pull data from 2005 to 2000.

Madhu

|||Madju,

Okay ... so I've created the database objects in Sql Server 2000, created a System DSN to connect to the Sql Express database (different server).

Next, when I use 2000's DTS and specify SQL Native Client I am able to connect successfully to the Sql Express database. However, after only several seconds into the transer, I get the follow error from DTS:

Cannot perform requested task because full-text memory manager is not initialized

Not sure what that pertains to.

(later)
Okay, I've found it. It's the MSSearch service on the server that it needs running. I've started the service, stopped and restarted MS Sql Server serice, dependent services and EA says full-text support is running now. Guess what? DTS still yields the same error message! Any other idea, anyone? I'm running DTS from my workstation. I shouldn't have to run it from the server, should I?

(later)
For whatever reason, have to run DTS from the Sql Server 2000 server and not a client workstation. Done deal now.

|||Thanks. This was really helpful. I tried a similar approach by exporting the table defs and data from SQL Express 2005 using the data publishing wizard, but i ran into an error recreating the database on the SQL Server 2000 due to the limit of 64k for command lengths.

This method worked much smoother. I also had to run the DTS on the server itself for it to work.

Restore Sql Express (2005) to Sql Server 2000

Well, my understanding is this should be possible and easy -- use a backup created by Sql Express (via Management Studio Express), copy the backup to the Sql 2000 server, select Database Restore through EM, specify Restore from Device, point to the Sql Express generated backup file as the *only* device, and launch.

Doesn't work.

When I launch the restore, I get the following error dialog:

Too many backup devices for backup or restore. Only 64 are allowed. <yada-yada> .... OK

Only got one backup device selected. Is this possible or not?

I have resorted to sql script generation with data in the past, but that's taxes the server resources heavily.

TIA,

Rick

No ... its not possible.. you can't restore SQL Server 2005 backup in SQL Server 2000. You may follow these steps

(a) Create Script of Database Objects from 2005

(c) Create new database in sql server 2000

(d) run the objects script in 2000

(e) use DTS to transfer data from 2005 to 2000

Madhu

|||Thanks. I assume you have to use DTS provided with full blown Sql Server 2005 (which ain't provided with SqlExpress)?
|||

Yes , SSIS(DTS of 2005) is not provided with Express edition. you can use sql server 2000 DTS and pull data from 2005 to 2000.

Madhu

|||Madju,

Okay ... so I've created the database objects in Sql Server 2000, created a System DSN to connect to the Sql Express database (different server).

Next, when I use 2000's DTS and specify SQL Native Client I am able to connect successfully to the Sql Express database. However, after only several seconds into the transer, I get the follow error from DTS:

Cannot perform requested task because full-text memory manager is not initialized

Not sure what that pertains to.

(later)
Okay, I've found it. It's the MSSearch service on the server that it needs running. I've started the service, stopped and restarted MS Sql Server serice, dependent services and EA says full-text support is running now. Guess what? DTS still yields the same error message! Any other idea, anyone? I'm running DTS from my workstation. I shouldn't have to run it from the server, should I?

(later)
For whatever reason, have to run DTS from the Sql Server 2000 server and not a client workstation. Done deal now.

|||Thanks. This was really helpful. I tried a similar approach by exporting the table defs and data from SQL Express 2005 using the data publishing wizard, but i ran into an error recreating the database on the SQL Server 2000 due to the limit of 64k for command lengths.

This method worked much smoother. I also had to run the DTS on the server itself for it to work.

Restore Progress

Hi,
I'm using SQL Server 2005 Management Studio and we started a restore
operation but closed the restore window. We can see the restore is in
progress (we see Restoring... next to the DB name) but we want to get some
info on the progress, any way to do this?
Please it's important,
Thanks,
DavidNo, you will have to wait until it completes.
Thanks
Hari
"David Abitbol" wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm using SQL Server 2005 Management Studio and we started a restore
> operation but closed the restore window. We can see the restore is in
> progress (we see Restoring... next to the DB name) but we want to get some
> info on the progress, any way to do this?
> Please it's important,
> Thanks,
> David

Restore Master database to SQLExpress

Hello,

I have a fresh install of sqlExpress and Management Studio Express on my test server. I want to restore my master database from backup.

From the command prompt I set the Sqlservr -s SQLEXPRESS -m

Then I opened another comand prompt and ran my SQLCMD script to restore the Master Database.

here is the sql script:
RESTORE DATABASE [Master] FROM DISK = N'E:\COPLEYNEWSDATABASEBACKUP\Master.bak' WITH FILE = 1, MOVE N'mastlog' TO N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\Master_1.ldf', NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10
GO

I recieve the following error.

Msg 3154, Level 16, State 4, Server COPLEYNEWS\SQLEXPRESS, Line 1
The backup set holds a backup of a database other than the existing 'Master' dat
abase.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Server COPLEYNEWS\SQLEXPRESS, Line 1

How do I restore a Master Database on SQL Express?

hi,

just in case I tried my self as well..

took a master database backup.. stopped the SQLExpress instance., started in singleuser mode (-m)..

opened another command window and ran

sqlcmd -S .\SQLExpress -Usa -Pxxxx

1>RESTORE DATABASE master

2>FROM DISK = 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\MSSQL\Backup\m.bak'

3>GO

and succesfully restored the master database and shutted the instance down.. it worked like a charm...

are you sure you are restoring a dump taken from the same instance you are trying to restore to?

regards

|||

Thanks for the reply,

I have SQL Server 9.0.2047 that has the Master.bak file.

I am trying to restore that file on a SQL Server 9.0.1399.

My problem right now is that I know I need to restore on the SQL Server 9.0.2047 but I can't figure out which version of SQL Server Express to download.
I thought it was the SQL Server Express w/advanced Services. There is also the issue of service packs for SQL Express.

Can someone please give me the download link to the correct version of SQL Server 9.0.2047?

|||

hi,

9.0.1399 is SQL Server 2005 RTM, while 9.0.2047 is service pack 1..

you can get the "traditional" sp1 package of SQLExpress at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=11350b1f-8f44-4db6-b542-4a4b869c2ff1&DisplayLang=en , while SQLExpress with Advanced Service has been relase only with sp1, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4C6BA9FD-319A-4887-BC75-3B02B5E48A40&displaylang=en

regards

|||

After a week of trying to figure out a working disaster recovery solution for sql express, I have finally succeeded.

I wanted to do a disaster recovery to the same server with a tape backup and then restore the Master.bak, Model.bak, MSDB.bak, and MyDatabase.bak, back to the SQLExpress DBMS. Let me start out by saying that you cannot do that unless you have a working copy of the Master.mdf on the server you are trying to restore to. The catch here is that the tape backup software will not back up the Master.mdf because its always being used by SQLExpress.

Now, I suppose I could have dettached the Master.mdf before I backed it up, but I decided to go a different route.

I found out that there is a directory called "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Template Data" and in it is a copy of the same contents (except I think that they are the original files created automatically by the original install, in other words, not uptodate) found in the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data" directory where the files need to reside in order to do a restore to the database, which happened to be missing after I did my tape back up restore. I simply draged and dropped a copy of the missing *mdf, *ldf files and then I was able to launch the SQLExpress Studio Management Express and connect to the SQL Server. The only thing different was that the Model database was set to (Read Only) but that didn't concern me because I was going to restore all the Databases (Master, Model, MSDB, MyDatabase) anyway.

After that was solved, I could now run any *.sql restore scripts and have them work.

Next step is to restore the Master.mdf but you can only do that in single user mode.
So, I went into SQLServer Express, single user mode with the command prompt:
C:cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn: Sqlservr.exe -s SQLEXPRESS -m
Press<enter>
After it does its thing you need to open an additional command prompt window because it will say that its ready for connections in single user mode, but you will not be given a new cursor prompt.

So I opened a new comand prompt window:
C:\cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn sqlcmd -S.\SQLExpress -i"E:\scripts\MASTERFULLRESTORE.sql"

This is what my MASTERFULLRESTORE.sql restore script file looks like (I created it previously using the GUI in sql express and then saved it to a script file instead of clicking on OK):
RESTORE DATABASE [Master] FROM DISK = N'E:\DATABASEBACKUP\Master.bak' WITH FILE= 1, NOUNLOAD, REPLACE, STATS = 10
GO

The SQL restore script will work this time becuase I have a working instance SQLExpress thanks to the previous drag and drop restore of the Master.mdf from the Template Data directory.

After that you need to go into Services and start the 'SQLServer Service'.
Then simply go into SQLExpress like normal and restore the Model, MSDB, from the GUI interface by right clicking on each one and selecting restore and then point to your *bak files.

When it came time to restore 'MyDatabase', I could see it in SQLExpress Management Studio Express but it was just a shell of it with no contents inside. This shell of my database is from the Master.mdf restore. Unfortunately, even though I could see it in the SQLExpress listing, when I right clicked on it, hoping for the restore option, It was grayed out. So I closed SQL Express and ran my restore.sql script from the command prompt using SQLCMD.exe and it succeeded.
So I opened a new comand prompt window:
C:\cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn sqlcmd -S.\SQLExpress -i"E:\scripts\MYDATABASEFULLRESTORE.sql"

I then went back into SQLExpress and ran some queries to test and everything seems to be working now.

Thanks to everyone for helping to point me in the right direction to solve this problem.

|||

hi,

After a week of trying to figure out a working disaster recovery solution for sql express, I have finally succeeded.

I wanted to do a disaster recovery to the same server with a tape backup and then restore the Master.bak, Model.bak, MSDB.bak, and MyDatabase.bak, back to the SQLExpress DBMS. Let me start out by saying that you cannot do that unless you have a working copy of the Master.mdf on the server you are trying to restore to. The catch here is that the tape backup software will not back up the Master.mdf because its always being used by SQLExpress.

I found out that there is a directory called "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Template Data" and in it is a copy of the same contents (except I think that they are the original files created automatically by the original install, in other words, not uptodate) found in the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data" directory where the files need to reside in order to do a restore to the database, which happened to be missing after I did my tape back up restore. I simply draged and dropped a copy of the missing *mdf, *ldf files and then I was able to launch the SQLExpress Studio Management Express and connect to the SQL Server. The only thing different was that the Model database was set to (Read Only) but that didn't concern me because I was going to restore all the Databases (Master, Model, MSDB, MyDatabase) anyway.

yep... could be a viable solution.. only in SQLExpress as only this edition saves this \Template Data folder for User Instance use.. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143684.aspx...
personally I think I'd go with the master rebuilded by the setup installer...

When it came time to restore 'MyDatabase', I could see it in SQLExpress Management Studio Express but it was just a shell of it with no contents inside. This shell of my database is from the Master.mdf restore. Unfortunately, even though I could see it in the SQLExpress listing, when I right clicked on it, hoping for the restore option, It was grayed out. So I closed SQL Express and ran my restore.sql script from the command prompt using SQLCMD.exe and it succeeded.

yep... your master restore has "pointers" to a database, your user database(s), but the files related to each database are not present in the \Data folder.. you can perhaps skip all this by just copying your mdf+ldf files (if you have a clean copy of them) into the folder.. but the path you followed is more correct.. you have a clean situation with your newest "granted" Transact-SQL backups..

regards

|||

Hi crowesql,

I did just that, but when I go to see if the restore actually happened, by selecting * from msdb..restorehistory there's no records there. How can I make sure I actually restored master?

Thanks