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Keep an original copy of the existing master.mdf before any attempts were made to restart. &nbsp;Keep that as a base master to go back to as you try to recover.<br />
<br />
Right now, what I can think to try is:<br />
1) Recreate a brand new master db from scratch, as if the instance were just installed. &nbsp;<br />
2) Shut down SQL.<br />
3) Copy the original master.mdf over the recreated .mdf (but naturally don't touch the log file).<br />
4) See if SQL can start up with the old master and the new, fresh .ldf.
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Keep an original copy of the existing master.mdf before any attempts were made to restart.  Keep that as a base master to go back to as you try to recover.

Right now, what I can think to try is:
1) Recreate a brand new master db from scratch, as if the instance were just installed.  
2) Shut down SQL.
3) Copy the original master.mdf over the recreated .mdf (but naturally don't touch the log file).
4) See if SQL can start up with the old master and the new, fresh .ldf.

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Don't you have a backup of the master database?
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Don't you have a backup of the master database?

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No other solution resolved the issue.
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Hello,<br />
<br />
I have a SQL server that has a corrupt MASTER.LDF file, which prevents SQL services from starting at all.<br />
<br />
Is there any way to start SQL services with just MASTER.MDF? &nbsp;So far I have tried renaming MASTER.LDF to MASTER.LDF.OLD and SQL reports that the file is missing and still does not start (although I do not get a corrupt message).<br />
<br />
If I cannot start MASTER.MDF without the log file, is there a way to rebuild the log file?<br />
<br />
Help is appreciated. &nbsp;Thanks!
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Hello,

I have a SQL server that has a corrupt MASTER.LDF file, which prevents SQL services from starting at all.

Is there any way to start SQL services with just MASTER.MDF?  So far I have tried renaming MASTER.LDF to MASTER.LDF.OLD and SQL reports that the file is missing and still does not start (although I do not get a corrupt message).

If I cannot start MASTER.MDF without the log file, is there a way to rebuild the log file?

Help is appreciated.  Thanks!

SQL 2008 R2 - MASTER.LDF corrupted without backup - Can I start SQL without MASTER LOG ?

Microsoft SQL Server is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.SQL Server is available in multiple versions, typically identified by release year, and versions are subdivided into editions to distinguish between product functionality. Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. Major improvements include the  Always On technologies and support for unstructured data types.