Microsoft KB Archive/313702

= The SQL Server service may fail to start with I/O error message 38 in the tempdb database =

Article ID: 313702

Article Last Modified on 2/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition

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This article was previously published under Q313702



SYMPTOMS
The SQL Server service may fail to start and you may receive the following error messages in the SQL Server error logs or in the event viewer application log of the computer:

spid5 Clearing tempdb database.

spid5 Encountered an unexpected error while checking the sector size for file 'DRIVE:\SQLFOLDER\DATA\TEMPDB.MDF'. Check the SQL Server error log for more information.

spid5 CREATE DATABASE failed. Some file names listed could not be created. Check previous errors.

spid5 Error: 823, Severity: 24, State: 6

spid5 I/O error 38(Reached the end of the file.) detected during read at offset 0000000000000000 in file 'DRIVE:\SQLFOLDER\DATA\TEMPDB.MDF'.

spid5 WARNING: problem activating all tempdb files. See previous errors. Restart server with -f to correct the situation.

NOTE: This article applies only to the tempdb database.



CAUSE

 * Hardware problems.

-or-


 * Permissions problems.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, use any of these methods:
 * Check the accessibility and condition of the device in question.


 * Run hardware diagnostics and correct problems, if possible.


 * Make sure that the disk drive (for example, C:\, D:\) where tempdb is located has sufficient NTFS permissions for the accounts that need access (that is, the account with which you start the SQL Server services, the system account, the Administrators group; all of these account must have Full Control).