0

I'm tasked with moving our SQL Server instance and system databases from the existing drive it's on to a new drive on the same server. I know I can stop the SQL Server service, literally move the instance and database files to the new drive and start the service again, but the drive is going to be mapped to a different letter.

I'm guessing I'll need to update the database file paths for the system databases to point to the new drive letter.

What else do I need to do to reconfigure the instance so that's pointing to the correct drive, to ensure it works properly when I start the service again?

Edit: It sounds like this Microsoft doc is pretty encompassing of what to do, especially from the system database perspective, but are there any other steps or gotchas I should be aware of from the instance perspective: Move System Databases

Note: I am unable to re-use the same drive letter for business reasons.

Improve this question
9
  • Yeah, don't do this. Change the drive letter on the new drive once you've moved everything. If you can't do that, uninstall SQL Server, reinstall it on the new drive, restore the last backup of you master and msdb databases, and mount your user databases.
    – Tony Hinkle
    Commented Mar 20, 2020 at 19:02
  • @TonyHinkle Sorry I added to the body now, I meant to mention I'm unable to re-use the drive letter for business reasons.
    – J.D.
    Commented Mar 20, 2020 at 19:05
  • stackoverflow.com/questions/46917495/… if you really want to do it. The thing to think about--if something goes wrong two months after you do this, you'll be wondering about the impact of doing this.
    – Tony Hinkle
    Commented Mar 20, 2020 at 19:05
  • 1
    Yes, that is where the files for the instance are stored.
    – Tony Hinkle
    Commented Mar 21, 2020 at 1:50
  • 1
    This is one reason you should always install the SQL Server binaries on the OS disk. Databases can be moved, but moving the SQL Server binaries requires uninstall/reinstall. And you never want to run uninstall/reinstall on a production server. Although it should work there's a lot that can go wrong, or be missed in the move.
    – David Browne - Microsoft
    Commented Mar 21, 2020 at 14:51

0

Reset to default