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Richard
Asked: 2009-08-29 15:00:18 +0800 CST

Can't Upgrade an MDF from SQL 2005 - 2008

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I'm trying to deploy an MDF file to my live server, but this also means going from SQL Express 2005 to 2008.

I'm getting the following error in my web page.

Database 'xxx.MDF' cannot be upgraded because it is read-only or has read-only files. Make the database or files writeable, and rerun recovery.

I've tried adding write permission to the IUSR account for the MDF and LDF file, but this doesn't work.

I've read this from MS support, but I don't really understand what I need to do in the context of an MDF file.

Has anyone else come across this and have a solution?

Thanks.

sql-server sql-server-2005 sql-server-2008

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Try attaching the database with SQL Server Management Studio and see if the database upgrade still fails.

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  2. If the database is attachable (you dont say if it is or not) then you need to enable writeability in an obsure area in the "properties" of the database. In SQL 2000 this use to be a checkbox setting but in SQL2005 SQL Management Studio Express it is a hard to find "true/false" setting in the db properties.

    Also, you obviously should have a .LDF to go along with that right?

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  3. If you dont have the LDF you can try the following to attach your DB and see if the upgrade completes:

    sp_attach_single_file_db @dbname= 'ENTER_DB_NAME', @physname= 'SOMEDRIVE:\SOME\LOCATION\TO\THE\DATABASEFILE.mdf'

    Referenced From: Opening .mdf files

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