36.3 Attach a Database (.mdf & .ldf files)

36.3 Attach a Database (.mdf & .ldf files)

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Attach a Database (.mdf & .ldf files)

In some cases a backup is not available but the data from the old/crashed PC is retrievable. We can attach the actual database file as opposed to ‘restoring’ it. The location of these files is most often found in ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data’. You will need to copy two files for both databases, namely ‘JTime.mdf ‘, ‘JTime_log.ldf ‘, ‘JT_Supp.mdf’ and ‘JT_Supp_log.ldf’ to the same location on the new PC. If these files already exist you will need to stop SQL services before pasting the new files over the existing files.

Attach the Database

The following steps are done using ‘Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express’ found by clicking ‘Start’, ‘Programs’, and ‘Microsoft SQL Server’.

Right click Databases, select ‘Attach’.

Click ‘Add’ then browse for the .mdf file, highlight it and click ‘OK’. The file should be in ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data’ or a similar path depending on SQL Server version.

Click ‘OK’ again on the ‘Attach’ window.





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