RE: Can't start MSSQLSERVER service. Can't find file specified

SSC Guru

Points: 233821

February 21, 2014 at 10:15 am

hayden_jones (2/21/2014)
SQL 2008 R2. Windows Server 2008 R2.
VMWARE
Needed much more space on the drive SQL was installed on (E: drive).
OS guys said, "we can't add that much space. We'll add another big drive and you can copy the files an we'll rename the drives"

This is real easy to do, cant understand why they made you go through the process of recreating the drive contents.

open VM properties and select the existing disk
type a new larger value for the virtual disk and close and save the VM properties
in the VM guest OS, start DISKPART from a cmd prompt
type LIST DISK and identify the disk number that has had size increased
type SELECT DISK disknumber
type LIST VOLUME and identify the volume number you wish to extend
type SELECT VOLUME volumenumber
type EXTEND
exit cmd prompt
et voila, your volume has been resized!

hayden_jones (2/21/2014)
I said ok. The copy was done by Netbackup. All files seem to be in place.
Rename was done. Now all E: drive files are back on E: and it's much bigger. Happy, right?
I try to start the MSSQLSERVER service and got
Windows could not start the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service on Local Computer.
Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified.
No mention of the file it was looking for. Nothing in event log (app, security, or system). Nothing in SQL log.
Where can I look?
Would appreciate an answer today. This is only QA, but the business wants to use it and are unhappy.

Clear the event logs and then try starting sql again, there should be an indication of the file it cant locate

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉