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 Changing drive letters

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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 13:42:41
All,

I have a test server that needs the drive letters changed for the data, log and backup drives. Is there a way to make this change without reinstalling SQL Server?



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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 14:03:09
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;224071&Product=sql2k

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 15:08:59
Hmm.. this seems to be if you are moving to a new drive. I am just looking to rename the existing drive letters. I think I will need to reinstall.



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Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 15:09:55
Won't renaming the drive letters "look" the same as moving to a New Drive Letter?
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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 15:14:51
I'm not sure if it is the same, I have a C:, D:, E: and F: drive currently. C:\ will remain, D: is currently the log drive and needs to be L:, E: is the backup drive and needs to be K: and F: is the data drive and needs to be W: I am not sure if attaching and reattaching will take care of all the stuff that needs to change. The main difference I see between moving to a new drive and renaming the existing drive is that the existing drive will appear to no longer exist.



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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 15:35:03
Just use that article. There is absoutely no need to reinstall.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 16:49:54
Ok, I did it using this article: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345408.asp
after some creative registry hacking and it appears to be in good shape. I had already started into my reg hacks so I didn't use the article you referenced but I will do so for the other server as it was an EXTREMELY time consuming exercise!

Thanks

-Rick




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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 19:08:08
Registry hacks, yikes! There is so not a need to do it that way.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3575 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 19:42:28
tara gave you the doc to use and you went with registry hacks? wtf?

that is funny.



-ec
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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 20:11:16
quote:
Originally posted by eyechart

tara gave you the doc to use and you went with registry hacks? wtf?

that is funny.



-ec



I had already started doing it, I backed the registry up first and figured I would do a rebuild if anything went wrong. This is a non production system and I have a few weeks before it will be used for anything so I can live dangerously. Plus it's a great learning experience.



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Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 22:35:41
"Plus it's a great learning experience"

As in "I'm not blinking well doing that again"?
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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-09 : 22:44:29
quote:
Originally posted by Kristen

"Plus it's a great learning experience"

As in "I'm not blinking well doing that again"?



Yeah, that and I got familiar with all the registry keys and starting the DB in recovery mode.



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Zoroaster
Aged Yak Warrior

702 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-10 : 10:36:57
Well, I tried the article and while it works for moving the system databases and resource database and it also works for getting SQL Server Service to run. It does not cover getting the client tools to recognize the new drive letter. As a result SSMS doesn't load and SQL Configuration manager doesn't load. In the registry there are a TON of entries still showing the old drive letter. Any suggestions for the remaining items?



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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-10 : 11:24:49
You left that information out in your initial post that you wanted to do that. The article only covers the database files.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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