Urgent, Please Help. Named Instance Question

• brettwalker42

  SSC Enthusiast

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  June 6, 2025 at 2:47 pm

  #4603629

  Hello all,

  I just installed a new named instance on SQL Server 2019 RTM-CU32.  The installation was successful but when I connected to the new named instance, it had all the databases and data from the default instance.  I looked at the properties of a couple databases and both instances (default and named) point to the same data and log files.

  I've installed named instances in the past (several years ago) and didn't have this problem.

  I suspect that somewhere in the configuration of setup, it asked me for file locations and I missed it.

  So, I have 3 questions:

  1. Can I salvage the newly installed named instance and just point to new data and log files?
  2.  Can I uninstall the newly created named instance without effecting the current default instance?  The default instance is a mirror of the production databases and is used for data analysis, etc.
  3. If I have to reinstall the named instance, where in the setup configuration do I find the setting(s) about data and log file locations?

  Basically, How do I fix this?

  Of course, all of these options would have to be done without effecting the current default instance.

  I'm leaving town Tuesday, 6/10 for a week and I need to get this named instance set up before I leave if possible.

  Please let me know if you have any questions.

  Thank you in advance for your help.

  Brett Walker

• Site Owners

  SSC Guru

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  June 7, 2025 at 3:10 pm

  #4604108

  Thanks for posting your issue and hopefully someone will answer soon.

  This is an automated bump to increase visibility of your question.

• Emperor100

  SSCrazy

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  June 8, 2025 at 3:16 pm

  #4604470

  I am assuming you are running it on Windows.

  -- Firstly take the full backup of the machine.

  -- Take the backup of databases, logins, users, sql agent jobs, linked servers etc. Keep all the info. at a safe and different location outside of this server for any recovery.

  Run the query to check the database files locations:

  SELECT db.name AS DBName,
  db.database_id,
  mfr.physical_name AS DataFile,
  mfl.physical_name AS LogFile
  FROM sys.databases db
  JOIN sys.master_files mfr ON db.database_id=mfr.database_id AND mfr.type_desc='ROWS'
  JOIN sys.master_files mfl ON db.database_id=mfl.database_id AND mfl.type_desc='LOG'
  ORDER BY db.database_id;
  

  What port are you running? If you are using 1433 default port, just specifying the server name is enough to connect to the sql instance, which is also same to connect to named instance.

  Also, check the services.msc to find out you have two separate instance services running?

  If possible attach screenshot of SQL Services running for further assistance.

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