INFO: Rebuilding SQL Server Registry Entries After Last Known Good (142743)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft SQL Server 4.2x
  • Microsoft SQL Server 6.0
  • Microsoft SQL Server 6.5
This article was previously published under Q142743

SUMMARY

It may be necessary to rebuild the SQL Server registry entries if they are missing or become corrupted. This can occur if, immediately after an SQL Server installation, you inadvertently select the Last Known Good configuration during startup under Windows NT. It may also occur after you have reinstalled Windows NT, replacing an existing installation.

MORE INFORMATION

IMPORTANT: Be aware that rebuilding the registry may not resolve all problems. You should perform a thorough backup of all database files before rebuilding the registry.

When you use the RegistryRebuild option, the setup program presents the same dialog boxes that it presents during a normal installation, but it does not copy any files from the installation CD or change any existing files other than the registry. You should make the same selections, and provide the same information, as in the original installation.

If you use this procedure to rebuild the registry after a new Windows NT installation, you should run the ODBC setup to replace the missing files from the winnt\system32 folder. You can find the ODBC Setup.exe file in the <platform>\ODBC folder on the installation disks, CD, or mapped network drive.

You can select the Default sort order, character set and size, because this information is read from the existing master database, and is not modified during a RegistryRebuild setup.

To rebuild the SQL Server registry entries, perform the following steps, from the installation disks, CD, or mapped network drive:
  1. From an operating-system prompt, or from the Run menu option, type the following:

    cd \sql\binn
    setup /t RegistryRebuild = On

    IMPORTANT: Be sure to type the Setup command exactly as indicated, including capitalization. There must be a space on both sides of the equal sign.

    NOTE: For SQL Server version 6.0, you can use either = On or = True for the Setup comand line.

    NOTE: For SQL Server version 6.5, the default directory is \Mssql\Binn.
  2. Follow the directions that appear on the screen.

    Setup may have difficulty locating certain .dll files. If this is the case, try typing the following from a command prompt:

    cd \sql\dll
    ..\binn\setup /t RegistryRebuild = On

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/3/2003
Keywords:kbinfo kbinterop kbusage KB142743
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