INF: Quick Method for Reinstalling SQL Server

ID Number: Q68229

1.10 1.11 4.20

OS/2

Summary:

The following information describes a quick tip for SQL Server users

who frequently need to reinstall SQL Server.

With SQL Server NOT RUNNING, use the PKzip file-compression utility to

archive the MASTER.DAT file and save it. The resulting MASTER.ZIP file

takes up only two megabytes (MB) of disk space and can be unarchived

in about one minute. After doing this, you have a fresh install of SQL

Server.

WARNING: If you use this procedure, it will destroy everything in

MASTER.DAT, such as db and dump devices, all system table changes,

and so forth. This is similar to doing a complete reinstallation of

SQL Server. Use this procedure with extreme caution.

Additional reference words: 1.10 1.11 4.20