Move SQL Server 2008 database files to a new folder location

Question

Logical Name

• my_Data
• my_Log

Path:

• C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\MSSQL10.MSSQLS

Answer 1

Some notes to complement the ALTER DATABASE process:

1) You can obtain a full list of databases with logical names and full paths of MDF and LDF files:

   USE master SELECT name, physical_name FROM sys.master_files

2) You can move manually the files with CMD move command:

Move "Source" "Destination"

Example:

md "D:\MSSQLData"
Move "C:\test\SYSADMIT-DB.mdf" "D:\MSSQLData\SYSADMIT-DB_Data.mdf"
Move "C:\test\SYSADMIT-DB_log.ldf" "D:\MSSQLData\SYSADMIT-DB_log.ldf"

3) You should change the default database path for new databases creation. The default path is obtained from the Windows registry.

You can also change with T-SQL, for example, to set default destination to: D:\MSSQLData

USE [master]

GO

EXEC xp_instance_regwrite N'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE', N'Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\MSSQLServer', N'DefaultData', REG_SZ, N'D:\MSSQLData'

GO

EXEC xp_instance_regwrite N'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE', N'Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\MSSQLServer', N'DefaultLog', REG_SZ, N'D:\MSSQLData'

GO

Extracted from: http://www.sysadmit.com/2016/08/mover-base-de-datos-sql-server-a-otro-disco.html