MsSQL - Restore Master/Model/MSDB

Steps to Restore the master Database:

• Stop the SQL Server Instance:

  • Open SQL Server Configuration Manager or Windows Services.
  • Locate the SQL Server service (e.g., SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) for a default instance).
  • Stop the service.
• Start SQL Server in Single-User Mode:

  • Open the SQL Server service properties (e.g., by double-clicking the service in Services).
  • Go to the "Startup Parameters" tab.
  • Add -m (for single-user mode) to the existing startup parameters. If there are existing parameters, separate them with a semicolon.
  • Start the SQL Server service from there

• Connect using sqlcmd:

  • Open a new Command Prompt window as Administrator.
  • Navigate to the SQL Server Binn directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLXX.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn).
  • Connect to the SQL Server instance using sqlcmd in single-user mode. For a default instance, use:

  sqlcmd -S . -E -d master
  sqlcmd -S . -U sa -P PASSWORD -d master

   

For a named instance, replace . with .\<InstanceName>

RESTORE DATABASE master FROM DISK = '\\BACKUP-SERVER\Backups\SQLSERVER01\master\FULL\SQLSERVER01_master_FULL_20250910_010011.bak' WITH REPLACE, RECOVERY;
-- SQL Server shuts down after master is restored. Remove -m, start the service normally,
-- reconnect with sqlcmd, stop SQL Server Agent, then restore model and msdb:
RESTORE DATABASE model FROM DISK = '\\BACKUP-SERVER\Backups\SQLSERVER01\model\FULL\SQLSERVER01_model_FULL_20250910_010013.bak' WITH REPLACE, RECOVERY;
RESTORE DATABASE msdb FROM DISK = '\\BACKUP-SERVER\Backups\SQLSERVER01\msdb\FULL\SQLSERVER01_msdb_FULL_20250910_010014.bak' WITH REPLACE, RECOVERY;

Check integrity

DBCC CHECKDB ('master') WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS, EXTENDED_LOGICAL_CHECKS;

• The WITH REPLACE option is crucial as it overwrites the existing master database.
• The RECOVERY option brings the database online after the restore.
• Restart SQL Server in Normal Mode:
  • After the restore completes and sqlcmd indicates the instance is shutting down, stop the SQL Server service again.
  • Remove the -m startup parameter from the SQL Server service properties.
  • Start the SQL Server service normally.

Last verified: October 2026

Sources:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/restore-the-master-database-transact-sql
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/back-up-and-restore-of-system-databases-sql-server