SQL server profiler 2012 - failed to start a new trace

  • Hi folks

    I am attempting to create a new trace but I get the following error message: "failed to start a new trace".

    I have been doing some digging and as I understand it, I had to find the directory Profiler uses for temporary files. So, I typed the following in the command window "SET TMP" and I received the following reply:

    C:\Users\Ross\AppData\Local\Temp

    Now, according to the forum:

    I am supposed to check that the system folder pointed to by the TMP environment variable exists and is not crammed with files.

    Well, when I went to the directory C:\Users\Ross\AppData\Local\Temp, it is indeed full of both files and directories. The size is 16.3 MB and has 133 files and 63 folders.

    When I had a look at the Environment Variables window and chose TMP the value is "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp" which according to my limited understanding is the equivalent to C:\Users\Ross\AppData\Local\Temp.

    So, what I am wondering is am I supposed to totally clear out this directory? I am not too keen on doing this because I don't want to stuff my PC up.

    If somebody could help me out I would really appreciate it.

    Kind regards

    Ross

  • Through profiler GUI if you are trying to save a trace to file or configure a trace to write to a file, you can save it anywhere you want. I generally save these to C:\Temp if I am using Trace.

    Shawn Melton
    Twitter: @wsmelton
    Blog: wsmelton.github.com
    Github: wsmelton

  • Alternatively you can try to create trace using TSQL, which provides you more flexibility...

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188662.aspx

    Cheers

  • Better still, don't use trace and start using extended events. You're running 2012, so the excuse of not having a GUI has been eliminated.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

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