Restarting SQL using database copies

You can restart SQL manually using copies of the database from previous backups and then restore the master database.

See Restoring the master database.

Table: Restarting SQL using database copies

Step

Action

Step 1

Ensure that the SQL services are not running.

Refer to the SQL Server documentation for details.

Step 2

Verify that the database copies are present.

See SQL database copy locations.

If necessary, restore the master and model database copies from a backup set to the same directory that the original master and model databases are in.

Step 3

Using the Windows Explorer, browse to the default data directory and delete the following files: 

  •   master.mdf  
  •   mastlog.ldf  
  •   model.mdf  
  •   modellog.ldf.

Step 4

Rename the copies of the databases back to their original names.

See SQL database names.

Do not use read-only files. The SQL services will not start with read-only files.

Step 5

Use the SQL Service Control Manager to start SQL Server.

Step 6

Restore the latest changes to the master database.

See Restoring the master database.

Restarting SQL using database copies