Question

I create database "Test" in folder "d:\test". Database files are "d:\test\Test.mdf" and "d:\Test\Test_log.ldf". I detach database from MS SQL Server 2008 R2, copy all files to new folder ("d:\test_new"), delete log file ("d:\test_new\Test_log.ldf"), and try to attach database again from new location. When I use SQL Server Management Studio, and choose "d:\test_new\Test.mdf" file, it determines that log file is located in "d:\test\Test_log.ldf" (old location). How can I attach this database with rebuilding log in new location? Just imagine, that I cannot copy ldf file again to new location, and that it is still available there, so SQL Server see it anyway. I want to say to SQL Server – "please, forget that log file, and create new log file here". It’s be better if you help me with T-SQL script, but if it will be steps in Management studio – I will convert it to script myself.

What I had tried already:

1.

CREATE DATABASE [test] 
ON ( FILENAME = N'D:\test_new\test.mdf' ) 
FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG

attaches log file from old location (FOR ATTACH – the same)

2.

CREATE DATABASE [test] 
ON ( FILENAME = N'D:\test_new\test.mdf' ) 
LOG ON ( FILENAME = N'D:\test_new\test_log.ldf' )
FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG

returns an error: Unable to open the physical file "D:\test_new\test_log.ldf". Operating system error 2: "2(File not found.)".

3.

 sp_attach_db and sp_attach_single_file_db

was tried too. And I even had checked their source codes – they just create dynamic SQL and call CREATE DATABASE … FOR ATTACH statement.

The question is slowly changed to: "Is it possible?"

UPDATE

Well, it looks like it’s not possible with current versions of SQL Server. If anybody knows a way to do it – please, I will be very pleased to know it too!

Answer 1

Edit2: To my knowledge, it is not possible for SQL Server to recreate a log file. It can shrink the ldf, but not create it when only the mdf exists.

---

When you copy your files from d:\test\ to d:\test_new\, do not delete the d:\test_new\Test_log.ldf.

Leave the log file there, because you cannot reattach the new DB without that log file. Afterwards, you can shrink that log to a minimum size.

So, to synthesize:

1. Copy your files from d:\test\ to d:\test_new\ and leave the log
   file there.
2. Run your create database script that you posted in your question (point 2).
3. Run the following script to shrink the log to a minimum size

.

USE test
GO
DBCC SHRINKFILE(logicalFileName, 1)
GO

To find out what logicalFileName is, run sp_helpfile, that will give you the logical file name for your log file:

USE test
GO
EXEC sp_helpfile
GO

more info here

Edit:
I think you need first to detach the test database from the old location:

(You might create a script that does it all, from the following commands)

C:\> osql -E 
1> sp_detach_db 'test'
2> go 
3> quit 
C:\> 

Then copy the files to the new location.

C:\> copy d:\test\* d:\test_new\*

Next, attach the test DB to the new path location:

C:\> osql -E 
1> sp_attach_db @dbname = N'test', @filename1 = N'd:\test_new\Test.mdf', @filename2 = N'd:\test_new\Test_log.ldf' 
2> go 
3> quit 
C:\> 

to test if the new database was successfully attached:

C:\> osql -E 
1> use test
2> go 
3> quit 
C:\> 

If there are no errors after the go command, then all is ok

Hope this helps

Microsoft article on how to move files