Hi SQL folks,

We had a database just disappear. It shows up in Enterprise Manager, but
the MDB and LDB files are just gone. All the other databases are there, and
working OK also. Could something like disk corruption cause this? No one
has logged into the server for a long time, so I know it wasn't "user
error".

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick White

If the files are gone but the database shows up in Enterprise Manager, one
of two things happened.

Either the mdf/ldf files were moved, deleted or renamed while SQL Server
was stopped (you may not find anyone who will admit it though) or the user
database was dropped (which removes the files) but then the master database
was restored (the restored master would have the old system table entries
from before the drop so the db would show up in Enterprise Manager, but the
mdf/ldf files would not be there).

Of course, I guess a third possibility is that Enterprise Manager has not
been refreshed since the database was dropped. Try closing/reopening EM and
see if the db still shows up.

Cindy Gross, MCDBA, MCSE
http://cindygross.tripod.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.