prim14092:How to attach and detach database files in SQL Server / MSDE 2000/SQL 2005?

SQL 2005

Detaching the Database:

1. Open SQL management Studio Express.


2. Expand Databases and right click on the database to be detached.


3. Go to Tasks->Detach
   


4. Verify all 3 checkboxes are checked and click ok to detach it
   
   
    


5. Copy \ Move the database files to their new location (remember that each database contains a LDF and MDF file).
    
   Default location:
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$PRIMAVERA\Data

Attaching the database

1. Open the Management Studio. Right click Database and choose attach
   
   


2. Click the Add button
   
   
   
    


3. Browse to the .mdf file and click ok
   
   
   
    


4. Verify the database name you are attaching does not conflict with any other databases, then click ok.
   
   
    


5. Resynch the users. Click the New Query button
   
   
    


6. Change the drop down menu to the name of your database, in this example it’s PMDB$PRIMAVERA
   
   
    


7. Copy/Type the following in the Query area:
   
   
    


8. Click the Execute button.
   
   
    


9. Once is has completed create the alias pointing  to the new database.
    

SQL 2000/MSDE

The data and transaction log files of a database can be detached and then moved and\or reattached to another server, or even the same server.  Detaching a database removes the database from SQL Server but leaves the database intact in the data and transaction log files that compose the database.

1. Log into the OSQL Utility, through DOS:
    
   Click: Start, Run
   Type: cmd
   Click: OK
    
   C:\>osql -U sa -P <sa password> -S <machine_name>\<instance_name>
    
   Example (5.0 stand-alone):
   C:\> osql -E -S .\primavera
   
   This will bring up a ” 1> ” prompt.
     


2. Detach the database.
   (In the example, the database will be called “PMDB$PRIMAVERA”.)
    
   1> EXEC sp_detach_db ‘PMDB$PRIMAVERA’
   2> go
    


3. Copy \ Move the database files to their new location (remember that each database contains a LDF and MDF file).
    
   Default location:
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$PRIMAVERA\Data
    


4. Attach the database.
   (In the following example, “PMDB$PRIMAVERA” is the new database name, and “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$PRIMAVERA\Data” is the folder where the physical files were moved to in Step 3.)
    
   1> EXEC sp_attach_db @dbname = ‘PMDB$PRIMAVERA’,
   2> @filename1 = ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$PRIMAVERA\Data\pmdb$primavera_dat.mdf’,
   3> @filename2 = ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$PRIMAVERA\Data\pmdb$primavera_log.ldf’
   4> go
    
   NOTE:  The MDF and LDF files need to reside on the local server.  They cannot be located on a network drive.
    
   NOTE:  If error “Cannot associate files with different databases.” results, see:
   Solution ID prim15885 - Error(s): ”Database ’PMDB’ cannot be opened due to inaccessible files or insufficient  memory or disk space.” / ”Cannot associate files with different databases.” 
    


5. Resync the ‘privuser’ and ‘pubuser’ passwords.
    
   1> use PMDB$PRIMAVERA
   2> EXEC sp_change_users_login ‘Update_One’,'pubuser’,'pubuser’
   3> EXEC sp_change_users_login ‘Update_One’,'privuser’,'privuser’
   4> go
    


6. (OPTIONAL) Repeat as necessary for the MMDB$PRIMAVERA database.

NOTE: If attaching via SQL Enterprise Manager, you will be prompted for the user account to attach as the owner. Select ‘sa’ user account.

To delete a database called “PMDB$PRIMAVERA”:

After detaching PMDB$PRIMAVERA (Step 2 above), delete pmdb$primavera.mdf and pmdb$primavera.ldf files.