I am trying different recovery methods. For master database, I took a full backup of database (db is in simple recovery mode), I stopped the sqlserver instance and then i removed its db file and then I tried to start the instance, which certainly failed because master db is not available. Now I am trying to start the instance in single user mode fore I could perform recovery, but I am facing problems on command line as well as on GUI. On command prompt, I am using following command (please also see the output of command bellow)
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E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn>sqlservr.exe -m
2012-04-25 16:54:24.74 Server Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (RTM) - 10.0.1600.22 (X64)
Jul 9 2008 14:17:44
Copyright (c) 1988-2008 Microsoft Corporation
Standard Edition (64-bit) on Windows NT 6.1 <X64> (Build 7601: Service Pack 1) (VM)
2012-04-25 16:54:24.74 Server (c) 2005 Microsoft Corporation.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.75 Server All rights reserved.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.75 Server Server process ID is 1216.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.75 Server System Manufacturer: 'VMware, Inc.', System Model: 'VMware Virtual Platform'.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.77 Server Authentication mode is MIXED.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.77 Server Logging SQL Server messages in file 'E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG'.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.77 Server This instance of SQL Server last reported using a process ID of 1280 at 4/25/2012 4:45:13 PM (local) 4/25/2012 8:45:13 AM (UTC). This is an informational message only; no user action is required.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.78 Server Registry startup parameters:
-d E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf
-e E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG
-l E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf
2012-04-25 16:54:24.78 Server Command Line Startup Parameters:
-m
2012-04-25 16:54:24.80 Server Error: 17113, Severity: 16, State: 1.
2012-04-25 16:54:24.80 Server Error 2(The system cannot find the file specified.) occurred while opening file 'E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf' to obtain configuration information at startup. An
invalid startup option might have caused the error. Verify your startup options, and correct or remove them if necessary.
E:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn>
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Can anyone guide that how can I start sql server in single user mode for master db restore/recovery?
Thanks in advance
Salman