best option when master db is not available

i want to setup my database to new server machine. i have backup as well as copy of database files (data & log), but i lost my master database from existing server.

so i have 2 ways of having my database

1. restore from backup

2. attach the data files.

which one is best option, when we start afresh on new machine with new master database.

Either method should work. I would prefer the RESTORE.

IF the file location (folder) is different, you may need to add the WITH MOVE option to the RESTORE.

Refer to Books Online, Topic: RESTORE

|||yes both options will work.......i'll advise you to go with restore db from backup but ensure that you start SQL Server in single user mode and then only you can perform restoration..........refer BOL its the best resource|||

thanks for your replies. I have gone thru the BOL.

One thing i need to reconfirm before i proceed, with the loss of master database i lost all the information that the master database hold, in this situation, which of the option will be best.

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i feel that there is some confusion in the requirement. ie Whether u r trying to resotre Master Database or User database. To restore a master database of one machine to another machine you have many restriction. OS/SQL SErver Version/Service pack and configuration (if i remember correctly) should be the same. I have also read somewhere that the backup of the same physical machine can ionly be restored(i have never tried this).

To transfer the objects from one server to other there are scripts available. You need to transfer Login/Jobs/DTS. THis is possible through Scripts.

(a) Install new instance of sql server in new machine

(b) transfer the LOgin refer : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/246133

(c) Make script of JOBs and run the script in the destination

(d) use save as option or file object trasfer for DTS

(e) Use Backup /restore for user databases.

Madhu

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there should not be any confusion, i want to restore user database.

since my old master db is lost, i lost login, etc. logins i can recreate manually, but i am worried is there is thing else about my User database which is lost along with master db, which i may not recover.

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All of the data in the users databases should be intact.

Any Jobs would be in the msdb database, so if you didn't lose msdb, you still have the jobs.

Most likely, the only thing lost is logins.