PRB: RebuildM Cannot Find Original Master Database Files for MSDE Installation (238678)

SYMPTOMS

MSDE installs Rebuild Master tool (Rebuildm.exe) in mssql7\binn folder. However, when you run it, the tool cannot find the original Master database files.

CAUSE

When you run the Rebuild Master utility it asks you to select the path to the Data directory from which the master database was originally installed. Since MSDE is installed from a .cab file, the source template for the master database is not available after installation. The Master.mdf and Master.ldf files in \mssql7\Data folder are not useful when you run the Rebuildm tool. If you point to those files, you will get the following error when you run Rebuild:

Cannot copy master. There has been a sharing violation. The source or destination file may be in use.

WORKAROUND

Run the MSDEx86.exe command line without supplying the full path name of the .iss file which will cause it to fail and display an error message. For example, run the following:

   msdex86 -s -a -f1 "unattend.iss"

This will extract the file to a folder in currentDir:\temp\pftXX~tmp folder. Without clicking OK or Cancel on the error message dialog box, copy the subfolders ( DevTools, Install, x86) to another folder since this temporary folder will be removed later by MSDE setup.

The master template files are in x86\data folder. You can use it with the Rebuildm tool.

MORE INFORMATION

The Rebuild Master utility is used to repair a corrupted master database or change the character set, sort order, or Unicode collation for a Microsoft SQL Server installation.

Master.mdf and Master.ldf files are extracted out from the Msdex86.exe and put into a temp directory during installation - but those are deleted after setup has completed. In order to run Rebuildm you will need to save those files in another folder as described earlier.