Change default database/log location

There's a setting in properties for SQL server in Enterprise Manager where
you can point out new default location for databases and logs. I want to do
just that, but have two questions:
1) Shall I just point out the partition, or do I have to create a folder
structure similar to the one SQL creates itself? (sqldata\MSSQL\ etc).
2) How do I go about to move one existing database from, for instance, C: to
E:? (Strangely, I can't find any documentation on this.)
[Windows Server 2003 (SP1); SQL 2000 (SP4).]
Looking forward to any help.
> 1) Shall I just point out the partition, or do I have to create a folder
> structure similar to the one SQL creates itself? (sqldata\MSSQL\ etc).
The only requirement is that the paths you specify must exist in order for
databases files to be created in the specified location (e.g. E:\DBDataFiles
or F:\DBLogFiles). These don't need to match the default SQL Server folder
structure.

> 2) How do I go about to move one existing database from, for instance, C:
> to
> E:? (Strangely, I can't find any documentation on this.)
There are 2 methods commonly used to do this. One is to detach the
databases, move the files and then attach the files from the new location.
The other is backup and then restore WITH MOVE. See
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314546 for more
information. Since the target is the same SQL instance, you don't need to
be concerned with different collations or orphaned users.
Hope this helps.
Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP
"JSL" <JSL@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0020C5C3-A2C4-4DD3-B5F9-8DA9492CDA88@.microsoft.com...
> There's a setting in properties for SQL server in Enterprise Manager where
> you can point out new default location for databases and logs. I want to
> do
> just that, but have two questions:
> 1) Shall I just point out the partition, or do I have to create a folder
> structure similar to the one SQL creates itself? (sqldata\MSSQL\ etc).
> 2) How do I go about to move one existing database from, for instance, C:
> to
> E:? (Strangely, I can't find any documentation on this.)
> [Windows Server 2003 (SP1); SQL 2000 (SP4).]
> Looking forward to any help.
|||Thank you very much, Dan, for your quick and detailed answer.
/JSL
"Dan Guzman" wrote:

> The only requirement is that the paths you specify must exist in order for
> databases files to be created in the specified location (e.g. E:\DBDataFiles
> or F:\DBLogFiles). These don't need to match the default SQL Server folder
> structure.
>
> There are 2 methods commonly used to do this. One is to detach the
> databases, move the files and then attach the files from the new location.
> The other is backup and then restore WITH MOVE. See
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314546 for more
> information. Since the target is the same SQL instance, you don't need to
> be concerned with different collations or orphaned users.
> --
> Hope this helps.
> Dan Guzman
> SQL Server MVP
> "JSL" <JSL@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0020C5C3-A2C4-4DD3-B5F9-8DA9492CDA88@.microsoft.com...
>
>