Rebuilding the master Database

If a current backup of master is not available, or the backup cannot be restored because Microsoft® SQL Server™ cannot start due to severe damage to master, master can be rebuilt using the Rebuild Master utility. When master has been rebuilt, a current backup of master can be restored, or the user databases, backup devices, SQL Server logins, and so on, can be re-created using SQL Server Enterprise Manager, or the original scripts used to create those entries.

Important The Rebuild Master utility rebuilds master completely. Because the msdb and model system databases are rebuilt as well, it may be necessary to restore backups of those databases. If any databases are restored or attached after master is rebuilt, it is necessary to specify the same sort order, code page, and Unicode collation when rebuilding master as used by those databases. If the same sort order, code page, and Unicode collation are not used, then it will not be possible to restore or attach those databases.

The general steps required to rebuild master completely if no backup is available are:

• Run the Rebuild Master utility to rebuild the system databases using the same sort order, code page, and Unicode collation used by the user databases.

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  Important The compact disc or shared network directory containing the SQL Server installation software is required to rebuild the master database.

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• Re-create any necessary backup devices.
• Reimplement security operations.
• Restore msdb if necessary.
• Restore model if necessary.
• Restore distribution if necessary.
• Restore or attach user databases if necessary.

When master has been re-created and any changes have been reapplied, back up master immediately.

To rebuild the master database

To start SQL Server in single-user mode

To restore a database backup

To attach a database

See Also