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ankurdk
 asked on

Recover data from .mdf file

Dear All,
Hi. I have a server with the following installed:

Windows server 2008 R2 SP1
SQL Server 2008 R2

My production database was "mydb"

The production database files were stored as below :

1) "mydb.ndf" file was stored at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\mydb.ndf"

2) "mydb.mdf" and "mydb.ldf" files were stored at D:\myfolder

Due to some reasons the Hard disk crashed and I lost my C:\ drive leaving me with only the ".mdf" and ".ldf" database files.

I have re-installed the Windows server 2008 R2 SP1 and SQL Sever 2008 R2. Now when I try to "re-attach" "mydb", by following method :

Right click Databases->Attach->Add, select the .mdf file and click OK

I get the following error :

"Unable to open the physical file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\mydb.ndf". Operating system error 2: "2(The system cannot find the file specified.)" (Microsoft SQL Server, Error : 5120)

My Query :
How can I recover/restore the database from just .mdf and .ldf files ?

I've tried the following :

1) Creating a "mydb.ndf" file and saving at the same location but SQL server is not able to map it to "mydb.mdf".

2) Creating a new "mydb" and over-writing "mydb.mdf" and "mydb.ldf" to the newly created location.

Please advice a solution as this recovery is very curcial for me.
Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server 2008

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Last Comment
Fabia Thompson

8/22/2022 - Mon
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
ste5an

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ankurdk

ASKER
Thanks Ste5an for your reposnse, I have restored the database from a backup and I've got the .ndf file. But there are two issues :

1) the new file created after restoring carries a different .ndf file name.
2) How do i link the latest .mdf & .ldf files with it. Is it at all possible.

Thanks in advance.
ste5an

Detach you database. Overwrite the mdf and ldf files you've restored from your backup with your files from the D: drive. Reattach the database.

There is no guarantee that this will work or if it works, that your database is in a state where you can continue to work with.
Vitor Montalvão

I have restored the database from a backup and I've got the .ndf file
To where you did the restore?

1) the new file created after restoring carries a different .ndf file name.
Can mean that someone changed the filename since the last backup. Or maybe there are more .ndf files and you're working with the wrong one.

2) How do i link the latest .mdf & .ldf files with it. Is it at all possible.
How old is the backup?
This is the best money I have ever spent. I cannot not tell you how many times these folks have saved my bacon. I learn so much from the contributors.
rwheeler23
ankurdk

ASKER
Restored from last backup. Thanks all for the support.
ankurdk

ASKER
I've requested that this question be closed as follows:

Accepted answer: 0 points for ankurdk's comment #a40693221

for the following reason:

Could not find the exact solution.
ste5an

There is no "exact" solution for your case. Simply because when you loose one data/log file, you need to restore this either by hand or from backup. So data-loss is highly predictable.

The problem is your situation: Here you normally always restore entirly from backup, which is the correct approach.

btw, this was also my recommendation in my first answer.

So points should be given.
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Vitor Montalvão

ankurdk, please review the answers and chose which ones helped you to find a solution, even isn't the solution that you might expected at the beginning.
ankurdk

ASKER
Well, I respect the objection of Vitor and claim to points by Ste5an. I would like to humbly state that restoring from a backup was my last resort which I was fully aware from the very beginning so I need not even mention it. I did mention the approaches that I took to recover data from existing non-functional database to which I expected answers which I got and I appreciate it. Nevertheless, I would like to credit Ste5an for his constant suggestions. Once again, thanks all for your support.
ankurdk

ASKER
Thanks a lot.
Your help has saved me hundreds of hours of internet surfing.
fblack61
Fabia Thompson

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