Question

SQL2000 sysfiles doesn't list all files

Asked by: robstacey

I have a database on SQL2000 which ran out of diskspace and went suspect. I've added more temporary disks to the server and managed to get a recovery using sp_add_data_files_recover_supsect_db.  It now seems to be fine, I've managed to purge a batch of the data and now want to remove this additional file from the database.  Trouble is that this additional file doesn't show in the sysfiles table.  It shows on the taskpad view and seems to be being used by the database when I try optimisation. However a DBCC shrinkfile (file_name, emptyfile) just gives me a Msg 8985 saying it can't locate file in sysfiles.
Is there a way of rebuilding sysfiles?  I've heard that sysfiles is a dynamic table. So I don't know if I can just slot new entries in.
Many thanks if you can help.

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Asked On
2007-04-17 at 07:51:39ID22516211
Tags

sysfiles

Topic

MS SQL Server

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: rboyd56Posted on 2007-04-17 at 08:33:29ID: 18925019

Sysfiles is not a dynamic table. It is an actual system table in each database. I just reproduced this and apparently the sp_add_data_file_recover_supsect_db procedure does not add an entry in the sysfiles table for this data file. And since it is a system table you cannot modify it.

I believe that you have recoverd a bug in SQL Server 2000. In all my years of supporting SQL Server I never heard of the sp_add_data_file_recover_supsect_db procedure and am unaware of anyone using it.

You may need to contact Microsoft support for a way to get out of this situation.

 

by: robstaceyPosted on 2007-04-17 at 09:01:03ID: 18925228

I found the procedure in books online and it seemed to work fine apart from this.  When reading the details of sp_resetstatus it suggests running sp_configure "allow updates" before to allow modifications to the system tables.
I can see that this is generally run on the master database, but would it unlock the system tables in a user database to allow me to manually put an entry in?

 

by: rboyd56Posted on 2007-04-17 at 09:07:55ID: 18925285

sp_configure 'allow updates' lets you update system tables. It does not necessarily allow you to add records.

I tried it and got a message that basically said you could not modify the table.

Interestingly enough, the sysaltfiles1 table does list this new file.

 

by: robstaceyPosted on 2007-04-17 at 09:32:25ID: 18925485

Yep, I've just noticed that master.sysaltfiles table has the file listed and when I try the "dbcc shrinkfile (file_name, emptyfile)" using the filename that's listed in sysaltfiles (which is different to the file name listed on the taskpad) it seems to be OK. It's a fairly hefty database for the server it's on, so I can't tell if it's going to completely work but it hasn't thrown an error straight back at me and the two files from the fileset seem to be filling /emptying as expected in taskpad view so fingers crossed.
Think it's sorted now, Thanks for your interest it was good to bounce thoughts off.
Rob

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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