How do I reconnect the database files after a system crash?

[Richard Peters]

After a hard disk crash I had to reinstall Vista and BCM. Unfortunately, I
had forgotten to use the BCM backup tool during the last four months. (Yes,
that was stupid of me, sorry for that). I was able, however, to recover
recent versions of the two main BCM database files (mdf and ldf).

I am now looking for a way to attach these "old" database files to BCM
again. I have tried SQL Server Management Studio Express to see if there is a
way to reconnect the database files, but couldn't figure it out.

How do I fix this?

Is it necessary that my new computer's name and / or my Windows user account
name are the same as before the hard disk crash?

I use Vista Busniess and BCM 2007.

 

[John]

Hi Richard,

Try placing those two database files under "%localappdata%\Microsoft
\Business Contact Manager\" and try again. Let me know if it works
for you.
Good luck,
John

 

[Richard Peters]

Thanks, John.

I've been able to solve the problem - which is a great relief.

Although I had already tried what you suggested, I tried once more. And
again, And again. Doing so, I tried several different ways to copy, connect,
attach etc., start BCM again, and so on, each time with different error
statements. This made me realise how hilariously complex and intransparant
this whole SQL database management thing is to a layman like myself. Maybe MS
should rename Office for Small Business into "Office for SQL specialists".

After quite a lot of extra tries and alterations, and when I least expected
to get a good result al all, it suddenly worked. For the first time, SQL
Server Management Studio Express actually offered me a chance to attach my
"old" database. My heart jumped after restarting BCM: all my data showed up!

Thanks for encouraging me to keep trying.

Philosophical question: Don't you find it impractical that we cannot
automate the backing up of these database files? It seems that the only way
to be protected from data loss is to daily remember to make the backup from
within BCM, which is a manual action that is likely to be forgotten. I'll try
to do better from now on, but nevertheless I feel that this is a great
omission in the usability and security of BCM - especially as BCM is meant
for small businesses like mine and not for bigger companies that can hire
skilled specialists who can take care of these things.

 

[Luther Blissett]

Thanks, John.

I've been able to solve the problem - which is a great relief.

Although I had already tried what you suggested, I tried once more. And
again, And again. Doing so, I tried several different ways to copy, connect,
attach etc., start BCM again, and so on, each time with different error
statements. This made me realise how hilariously complex and intransparant
this whole SQL database management thing is to a layman like myself. Maybe MS
should rename Office for Small Business into "Office for SQL specialists"..

After quite a lot of extra tries and alterations, and when I least expected
to get a good result al all, it suddenly worked. For the first time, SQL
Server Management Studio Express actually offered me a chance to attach my
"old" database. My heart jumped after restarting BCM: all my data showed up!

Thanks for encouraging me to keep trying.

Philosophical question: Don't you find it impractical that we cannot
automate the backing up of these database files? It seems that the only way
to be protected from data loss is to daily remember to make the backup from
within BCM, which is a manual action that is likely to be forgotten. I'lltry
to do better from now on, but nevertheless I feel that this is a great
omission in the usability and security of BCM - especially as BCM is meant
for small businesses like mine and not for bigger companies that can hire
skilled specialists who can take care of these things.






- Show quoted text -

Windows provides a way to schedule backups, and so backup data for all
applications at one time. That way you don't have to schedule backups
in each application. BCM's help docs could indicate how to do this.

 

[Richard Peters]

Hi Luther,

Unfortunately, MS only supports BCM's built-in backup method. There's no
description whatsoever on how to use anu other method, like the ones you seem
to suggest. That's exactly why I such a huge problem to restore my database
files.

You see, I do make normal back up's of all my files, including thes databse
files, but when it comes to restoring the database files backed up that way,
MS leaves me in the blind. It's not supported and thus not described in any
way. MS clearly states that using the built-in back-up method is the only
right way and supported way. MS even goes so far as to advice BCM users that
they put a daily reminder in their Outlook tasks so they don't forget to
start the built-in back-up procedure.

I would be thankful to anyone that would explain to me how to automate these
back-ups.

Richard

 

[Luther Blissett]

Hi Luther,

Unfortunately, MS only supports BCM's built-in backup method. There's no
description whatsoever on how to use anu other method, like the ones you seem
to suggest. That's exactly why I such a huge problem to restore my database
files.

You see, I do make normal back up's of all my files, including thes databse
files, but when it comes to restoring the database files backed up that way,
MS leaves me in the blind. It's  not supported and thus not described in any
way. MS clearly states that using the built-in back-up method is the only
right way and supported way. MS even goes so far as to advice BCM users that
they put a daily reminder in their Outlook tasks so they don't forget to
start the built-in back-up procedure.

I would be thankful to anyone that would explain to me how to automate these
back-ups.

Richard






- Show quoted text -

I googled "automate sql server backup" and there's a lot of
suggestions out there.

One approach is to look into a Windows program called Task Scheduler.
You can to configure it to backup your database; the .MDF file in C:
\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Business Contact Manager.

Sql Server has support for automated backups, but not with the free
version that comes with BCM - perhaps that's why BCM has a command to
do backups manually. You can get a sql server license, upgrade sql
server, and then use their backup service.

 

[Richard Peters]

Hi Luther,

Following your suggestion I googled "automate sql server backup" and indeed
I came across some very useful and promising expert advice. Two of them stood
out as they appear to use standardized and proven methods which are well
documented. Besides, these solutions are cost-free. I still have to start
testing, but I expect that either of these two methods will do it for me.

For anyone else interested in these cost-free automated SQL Express backup
methods, visit:

(1)
http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/gu...-of-a-sql-server-2005-express-data-store.aspx

(2) http://www.sqldbatips.com/showarticle.asp?ID=29

Luther, thanks a lot for helping me out here!

Oh, by the way, I'd advice anyone interested in these matters NOT to follow
up on the suggestion to simply use Windows Backup or any other generic backup
program to backup the mdf and ldf database files. As I've tried to point out
before, this is exactly what I had done and which has brought about all
difficulties upon restoring. These original database files are not intended
to be used as a restore source after a removal and re-install of Business
Contact Manager. If anyone tries to do that, like me they will probably
experience great difficulty in re-attaching these files. Such method is not
supported by MS, it's not documented and it's obscure and unclear in its
workings. Therefore I feel it's hard to carry out and unreliable - well, at
least for a computer user like me who has "only" user knowledge and is not a
SQL expert. Instead, I'd suggest to try and test one of the methods in the
above mentioned links.

 

[Nancy]

Hello Richard, I'm hoping you can help me! I experience a similar situation
where i suddenly lost my outlook w/business mgr program. in fact, all
programs were wiped from my computer. now i hvae those same 2 files you have
for my bcm database (mdf, ldf) but can't figure out how to pull them back up
and restore the database.

I use vista and office 20003. i downloaded the sql server mgnt studio
express. now what? Please, PLEASE, help!

Thanks -- Nancy

 

[Richard Peters]

Nancy,

Maybe I can help, but we probably need to connect in another way to make it
work. In my first posting of March, 11, you can read that I really didn't
have a clue of how I actually managed to re-attach my BCM database. I seemed
pure luck. Having said that, I think that the problem was that I had no help
source whatsoever, not even a discription of what items should or should not
appear in SQL Server Management Studio Express.

My own database is running fine now. The fact that it shows itself with
specific properties and settings in my SQL Server Management Studio Express
may be helpful. It gives us a goal to strive for, so to speak. Still,
however, I have no idea what you are seeing when browsing through your
settings in SQL Server Management Studio Express right now. One or more
setting out of many possible settings could be faulty. Since there are so
many settings, it would be a long shot for you and me trying the find the one
setting or instruction on your side that is different from mine and thatwil
lmake the difference.

Therefore I suggest we use a program to make a remote computer connection
over the internet . If you feel like this is the right approach, tell me if
you can find the "Windows remote assistance" program on your PC. If you don't
have it, we could use another free software that does the same. After the
start up of such an assistance connection, I can look from a distance at your
settings and discuss with you different database settings that you then make,
or I then make for you.

 

[Nancy]

Thank you, Richard, for your response. To be honest, I'm not comfortable
sharing my computer with someone I don't know. Which of course, just makes
this tougher than it needs to be, I'm sure.

I have Vista and use Outlook 2003 w/BCM. When I try to connect to my .mdf
file, BCM makes new ones or tries to connect to previous "new ones" that it
has made. So working through Outlook isn't working. When I tried connecting
through SQL Srvr Mgmt Studio Express 2005, I says it can't connect to server
or only pulls up one thing that says "Database". I know nothing of this
program so of course I have not changed any settings. In fact, I don't know
of any settings to change!

I believe that there may be in an install issue. First, BCM installed with a
"compatibility" error message. It completed the install but I don't know if
that is part of the problem. Second, I think SQL Srvr... also installed
incorrectly as it's not finding anything or even truly connecting with my pc.

Any suggestions you can offer, or if you know where I might find some, would
be appreciated.

 

[Richard Peters]

Hi Nancy,

I think I understand your situation and questions. Like I said, I don't see
a way to help you without detailed information on many possible settings that
may influence your software. This can probably only be solved by us walking
through your settings together, addressing any suspicious settings (trial and
error).

Or, maybe you are able to find the right manual, whitepaper or whatever
source that takes you through these settings. If you find such a source, I'm
interested to hear from it, as I couldn't find any.

Maybe you know of any person that you can trust do take you through your
software's settings...

 

[Huang Qiliang]

Hi,

I am also using Vista and Outlook 2007.
When I was using Outlook 2007 and XP, I could just copy the whole MDF file
to my backup drive, and if anything went wrong, I just copied and pasted this
file back to the BCM directory and everything would be fine. It seems I can't
do this on Vista.

So now I have the MDF file which was used in outlook 2007 and XP, and now I
have outlook 2007 on Vista and I cannot open this file.

I'm not a geek and I have MS SQL Server 2005 with 3 configuration tools, but
no SQL Server Studio or anything like that.

So for a geek like me, how do I get BCM to recognise my MDF file again,
especially as I dont' understand the what "%localappdata%" means in your
reply to Richard below.

Thanks much

 

[Jeff]

Hi Huang,

Have you had any success? I am currently in the same situation.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[Luther Blissett]

Hi Huang,

Have you had any success? I am currently in the same situation.

Thanks

Jeff











- Show quoted text -

First step is to get the MDF file attached to the BCM Sql Server
instance (MSSMLBIZ).

Search this group, or the sql server 2005 documents, for instructions
on doing that.