Manually attach one instance of SQL Server database from another SQL Server instance

Question

I have installed two SQL Server instances, one is SQL Server 2012 and the other is SQL Server 2014.

I connected to the SQL Server 2014 instance using Management Studio and clicked "Attach", while clicking add "Locate Database Files" window is opened and I am not able to see the SQL Server 2012 instance databases.

Is it possible to attach other instance's databases without moving databases to another location?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 17 '15 at 14:44

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Is the database you are trying to attach still being used by the 2012 instance? A database cannot be attached to two instances simultaneously. As long as SQL Server can see a drive (or a share) it can attach a database to it (as long as the database being attached is the same or lower version.)

answered Mar 17 '15 at 14:44

benjamin moskovits

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Ya I detached 2012 database after that also i cannot attach.The 2012 instance of "DATA" folder cannot expanded in management studio . – aishwarya kasi Mar 17 '15 at 14:48
It sounds like the user you are running under in 2014 does not have the necessary permissions on the 2012 data folder. – benjamin moskovits Mar 17 '15 at 14:50
Ya that's correct.There is any way to grant permission to 2012 data folder?. – aishwarya kasi Mar 17 '15 at 14:54
Not from within SQL Server. You, or the owner of the folder, at the file system level (Windows/DOS/Windows Explorer...) has to grant read/write permission on the folder ,or files (mdf/ndf/ldf), to the SQL Server 2014 ( target) sysadmin user. – benjamin moskovits Mar 17 '15 at 14:57
ya ok.Thank you .I will check with that. – aishwarya kasi Mar 17 '15 at 15:02
I also give the permission ..Stil the databases are not listed in the data folder... – aishwarya kasi Mar 17 '15 at 15:05

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 17 '15 at 14:42

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Have you tried to add a Linked Server?
See e.g. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff772782.aspx

answered Mar 17 '15 at 14:42

Jan

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ya i tried linked server .But after that also the databases are not listed. – aishwarya kasi Mar 17 '15 at 14:43

Manually attach one instance of SQL Server database from another SQL Server instance

2 Answers2