Its not doable

I know it's not doable but I thought I should still ask the Gurus on this board:

Can I restore a master database backed up on server A to a new Server B.

Case1: Server A and Server B has the same structure, file system and drive specificiation, I think it's doable in that case.

Case2: Server A and Server B has different file system like c:\ and d:\ on A and C:\ and E:\ on Server B. It's nor DOABLE right?

Case3: Server A is called Server A and Server B is called B, then also we cannot restore the master database, RIGHT?Never done it...

but why not...you'll have to identify the new physical location in the restore..

like

RESTORE DATABASE TaxReconDB_Prod
FROM DISK = 'D:\Tax\BackUp\TaxReconDB.dmp'
WITH MOVE 'TaxReconDB_Data' TO 'D:\Database\NJROS1D151DEV\MSSQL$NJROS1D151DEV\Dat a\TaxReconDB_Prod_Data.MDF'
, MOVE 'TaxReconDB_Log' TO 'D:\Database\NJROS1D151DEV\MSSQL$NJROS1D151DEV\Dat a\TaxReconDB_Prod_Log.LDF'
, REPLACE|||If I had to make a guess, I'd say that you could RESTORE MASTER (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/howtosql/ht_7_backpc_61x5.asp), but that doesn't make it a good idea!

-PatP|||I've never done it...Pat?

I guess in some cases, when it's corrupted you have no choice...

knock on wood

Why do you want to do this...I bet it's some "clever" shortcut...|||It is a common trick for upgrading server hardware. You run up the new box (offline) with the same name and IP as the old box. You then restore master and reattach the other databases, and life is good!

-PatP|||As far as the locations and the drive specification are same, you are safe. But if the system databases where on a different drive on the old server than the new one, then you are in trouble.|||Originally posted by sqlserver2k
As far as the locations and the drive specification are same, you are safe. But if the system databases where on a different drive on the old server than the new one, then you are in trouble. Why is that? We move from C: to E: (and back) all of the time.

-PatP