INF: Quick Method for Reinstalling SQL Server (68229)

This article was previously published under Q68229

The following information describes a quick tip for SQL Server users who frequently need to reinstall SQL Server.

With SQL Server NOT RUNNING, use the PKzip file-compression utility to archive the MASTER.DAT file and save it. The resulting MASTER.ZIP file takes up only two megabytes (MB) of disk space and can be unarchived in about one minute. After doing this, you have a fresh install of SQL Server.

WARNING: If you use this procedure, it will destroy everything in MASTER.DAT, such as db and dump devices, all system table changes, and so forth. This is similar to doing a complete reinstallation of SQL Server. Use this procedure with extreme caution.