Reattaching System Databases

I had to uninstall a SQL Server 2000 installation. Before I uninstalled it
I copied the Data directory to a different drive. After I reinstalled it I
copied my user databases back to the new Data directory and re-attached
them. My problem is I can not find a way copy the system databases back to
the new Data directory to re-attach them. I tried it with the Master.mdf
after shuting down SQL Server, but it wouldn't start back up. I do not have
a backup to restore from, only the .mdf and ldf files.
Is there a way to attach the old sytem database mdf and ldf files to the new
SQL Server installation.
Thanks
MikeAs a last ditch attempt, you could attach them as another database, perform a backup of the new database and then restore the master with the backup.|||Hi,
Instead of attaching the User databases perform the below steps,
After installation perform ,
1. Stop the SQL Server / SQL Agent service
2. Move all the new MDF and LDF to a new location (System databases)
3. Copy all the old MDF and LDF files back to the old location where the
files resides previously (Includes old System databases)
4. Start SQL server back
Thanks
Hari
MCDBA
"M Smith" <msmith@.avma.org> wrote in message
news:ONhB#8xzDHA.1740@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> I had to uninstall a SQL Server 2000 installation. Before I uninstalled
it
> I copied the Data directory to a different drive. After I reinstalled it
I
> copied my user databases back to the new Data directory and re-attached
> them. My problem is I can not find a way copy the system databases back
to
> the new Data directory to re-attach them. I tried it with the Master.mdf
> after shuting down SQL Server, but it wouldn't start back up. I do not
have
> a backup to restore from, only the .mdf and ldf files.
> Is there a way to attach the old sytem database mdf and ldf files to the
new
> SQL Server installation.
> Thanks
> Mike
>

Reattaching old database

I have just installed SQLExpress version 9.0.1399.

I was using an earlier version of the server before and backed up a copy of my mdf files for safety's sake. However when I now try and attach the old databases I get an error that the database files from the old non-release version (590) is not compatible.

Probably my own fault - the information was probably clearly on display deep in a file somewhere in the documentation (cough). However I would kind of like to get at the data in these files.

Is there any way of getting hold of an earlier version of SQLExpress which will handle these files? Or can they be opened in any other way?

The full error message I am getting is:

Database 'myCMS' cannot be upgraded because its non-release version (590) is not supported by this version of SQL Server. You cannot open a database that is incompatible with this version of sqlservr.exe. You must re-create the database. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 950)

I have searched around for more information and the advice seems to be that I should open the database in an older copy of SQLExpress, dump the data with BCP and recreate the database.

So now my question is, where can I find installation files for earlier versions of SQLExpress as I don't seem to have a copy of the original executable?

|||I am afraid these are no longer available, you might be able to get them by calling Customer Support Services but this will cost money