Windows

SQL Error – Windows could not start the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) on Local Computer (moved Master DB)

I was trying to move my Master DBs to another folder by using steps mentioned in my one of [previous blog post]. But after all steps, when I tried to Start the services I got error with following popup:

Error Description:

Windows could not start the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) on Local Computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code 3417.

–> So, I checked the error log file and it showed the reason for error.
Default location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\

…
2016-06-27 12:18:28.02 Server The service account is ‘NT Service\MSSQLSERVER’. This is an informational message; no user action is required.
2016-06-27 12:13:33.30 Server Registry startup parameters:
     -d E:\SystemDatabases\Master\master.mdf
     -e C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG
     -l E:\SystemDatabases\Master\mastlog.ldf
2016-06-27 12:13:33.30 Server Command Line Startup Parameters:
     -s “MSSQLSERVER”
…
2016-06-27 12:13:33.41 spid5s [INFO] HkHostDbCtxt::Initialize(): Database ID: [1] ‘master’. XTP Engine version is 0.0.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.12 spid5s Starting up database ‘master’.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Error: 17204, Severity: 16, State: 1.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s FCB::Open failed: Could not open file E:\SystemDatabases\Master\master.mdf for file number 1. OS error: 5(Access is denied.).
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Error: 5120, Severity: 16, State: 101.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Unable to open the physical file “E:\SystemDatabases\Master\master.mdf”. Operating system error 5: “5(Access is denied.)”.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Error: 17204, Severity: 16, State: 1.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s FCB::Open failed: Could not open file E:\SystemDatabases\Master\mastlog.ldf for file number 2. OS error: 5(Access is denied.).
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Error: 5120, Severity: 16, State: 101.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s Unable to open the physical file “E:\SystemDatabases\Master\mastlog.ldf”. Operating system error 5: “5(Access is denied.)”.
2016-06-27 12:18:28.13 spid5s SQL Server shutdown has been initiated

–> The above error log (in bold) tells that the service account NT Service\MSSQLSERVER does not have access to the files moved to new location.

–> So, to provide access, go to the new folder location –> Right click and select Properties –> Go to Security tab, click on Edit –> click on Add, to add the Service Account. Apply the Service Account (here in my case NT Service\MSSQLSERVER) and change the Locations to your PC, as its a local Service Account:

Give “Full Control”, and click OK on popups.

Now Start the “SQL Server” services and this time it will work.

To check and confirm the new file location of Master DB, Execute following SQL query: