Restoring the Microsoft SQL Database Server MASTER Database
Creation Date: May 28, 1999
Revision Date: October 12, 2012
Product: DS‑Client (Windows)
Summary
If you need to restore an Microsoft SQL Server's MASTER database, you need to perform additional steps to ensure a successful restore.
NOTE: This article describes restoring the Microsoft SQL Server MASTER Database for any instance, except the DS-Client’s Microsoft SQL database.
See also
SQL Server 2005 & up (Full & Express versions)
1. Use the Microsoft SQL Setup program to rebuild the master database. Rebuild using the same Microsoft SQL Server version, character set and sort order as the master database dump that will be reloaded.
2. Stop the SQL Server, if it is running.
3. Open the Registry on the SQL Server computer (use regedt32.exe).
For 32-bit instances running on 32-bit operating systems & 64-bit instances running on 64-bit operating systems:
a) Browse for the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\InstanceNames\SQL
You will find a list of all SQL instances installed on that machine.
b) Locate the name of the Instance you want to start in single-user mode in the Name field.
The Data field will contain a map of this Instance on the computer.
c) Browse for the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<DATA VALUE>\MSSQLServer\Parameters
For 32-bit instances running on 64-bit operating systems:
a) Browse for the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\SQLServer\InstanceNames\SQL
You will find a list of all SQL instances installed on that machine.
b) Locate the name of the Instance you want to start in single-user mode in the Name field.
The Data field will contain a map of this Instance on the computer.
c) Browse for the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<DATA VALUE>\MSSQLServer\Parameters
4. Add a new registry Value at the end of the list. Give it a Value Name of SQLArgn, where n in an incremental number of 1 over the current maximum. Make the Data Type “REG_SZ”, and for the string value enter -m.
5. Restart Microsoft SQL Server in single-user mode using the Windows Services regular Start command.
6. Use DS-Client to restore the master database directly into the restored instance. When the load of the master database is complete, the server automatically shuts itself down.
7. Delete the registry Value SQLArgn that you added in step 4. Restart the Microsoft SQL Server normally (from Enterprise Manager or SQL Server Service Manager).
8. Restore the msdb database and the rest of the databases, if applicable.