SQL Server tells me database is in use but it isn't

Question

SQL Server keeps telling me a database is in use when I try to drop it or restore it, but when I run this metadata query:

select * from sys.sysprocesses 
where dbid 
  in (select database_id from sys.databases where name = 'NameOfDb')

It returns nothing.

Sometimes it will return 1 process which is a CHECKPOINT_QUEUE waittype. If I try to kill that process, it won't let me (cannot kill a non-user process).

Anyone have any idea what's wrong?

Answer 1

There could be lots of things blocking your database. For example, if you have a query window opened on that database, it would be locked by you. Not counting external accesses, like a web application on IIS.

If you really wanna force the drop on it, check the close existing connections option or try to manually stop SQL Server's service.

Answer 2

i like this script. Do not struggle with killing..

use master

alter database xyz set single_user with rollback immediate

restore database xyz ...

alter database xyz set multi_user

Answer 3

I was having the same issue when trying to restore a database from a backup. The solution for me was to ensure that I checked "Overrite the existing database(WITH REPLACE)" and "Close existing connections to destination database" in the Options page BEFORE doing the restore. Here is a screenshot below.