SQL error 3415 occurs while attaching a database to an SQL server. It normally happens due to insufficient permission of the user or SQL server version conflicts.
As a part of our Server Management Services, we help our Customers to fix SQL related errors regularly.
Let us today discuss the possible causes and fixes for this error.
What causes SQL error 3415?
Users often face the SQL error 3415 while attaching a database to the SQL server. A typical error message looks like:
Major reasons for this error are:
- The user does not have sufficient permission to the MSSQL data folder.
- The database is in read-only mode.
- Version conflict of SQL Servers.
Let us now look at each of these reasons and their solutions one by one.
How to fix the SQL error 3415?
The most common reason for error 3415 is that the user under which the SQL service runs does not have full access permissions to MSSQL data folder. To fix this error, we need to grant proper permission to the user using the steps below:
1. Go to the MSSQL data folder and right-click on it.
2.Select Properties.
3. Go to the Security tab.
*If the "Log On As" user from your service is a user account, make sure that user account has Full Control for the folder.
*If the "Log On As" user from your service is "Network Service" or "Local System" those accounts should already have access.
The database is in read-only mode
While we attach the database to a higher version of SQL Server than the instance the .mdf was originally attached to, it triggers the error. SQL Server tries to upgrade the database as part of the attachment, but it cannot as the database is in read-only mode.
SQL Server does not detect the read-only filegroup before it starts to upgrade the database. After the upgrade has started, SQL Server writes entries to the transaction log. Earlier versions cannot read the new transaction log entries.
To fix the error, we will need to move the database that contains a read-only filegroup to an instance of the new SQL Server version. A detailed procedure to perform this is available here.
Alternate Solutions
If the error message appears even after having proper permissions and the database is not read-only, it could be related to SQL Server Management Studio. Starting the SQL Server Management Studio in Administrator mode may help to fix the error message.
Another alternate fix for this error is to restore a backup of the database from the old instance to the new instance. Since the conflict with the versions in the two servers is a major reason for this error, performing an upgrade of the earlier version of SQL Server to a higher version of SQL Server would also help to fix it.
Further, retrying after changing the locations of MDF and LDF files may also help to fix the issue. Also, we need to make sure that the account jas the required privileges.
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Conclusion
In short, SQL error 3415 occurs while attaching a database to an SQL server. It normally happens due to insufficient permission of the user or SQL server version conflicts. Today, we saw how our Support Engineers fix this error.
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Question
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Hi all:
I recently download sql server 2012
I try to attach databases, but I have this error
Database 'DBName' cannot be upgraded because it is read-only, has read-only files or the user does not have permissions to modify some of the files. Make the database or files writeable, and rerun recovery. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3415)
I don’t know how to Access the databases. I would like not to lose them
Can u help me?
Thanks in advanced
Answers
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Hello volar,
Where are the database files mdf+ldf located? As it’s best move the files to the DATA subfolder of your SQL Server installation, here the SQL Server service account do have all required permissions to access the files.
Olaf Helper
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Proposed as answer by
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 5:20 AM
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Marked as answer by
Fanny Liu
Monday, August 12, 2013 10:08 AM
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Proposed as answer by
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Agree, the files and directories that you are using need to be owned, or at least allocate permissions to the account that is running the SQL Server engine. If you have downloaded the files you may also find that they are in read only mode and you need to
unlock them.As you are attaching the files, just move them to the default data and log directories and check the file ACL’s
Virtual Realm Consulting (http://www.virtualrealm.com.au)
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Proposed as answer by
Alisa Tang
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 5:20 AM -
Marked as answer by
Fanny Liu
Monday, August 12, 2013 10:08 AM
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Proposed as answer by
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Question
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hi,
I am trying to attach database AdventureworksLT, and it shows me an error message:
Database AdventureworksLT cannot be upgraded because it has readonly files,make the database or files writable or rerun recovery.how can i make database or files writable?
Answers
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Proposed as answer by
Paul Svirin
Monday, August 31, 2009 8:48 PM -
Marked as answer by
Xiao-Min Tan – MSFT
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:46 AM
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Proposed as answer by
All replies
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Proposed as answer by
Paul Svirin
Monday, August 31, 2009 8:48 PM -
Marked as answer by
Xiao-Min Tan – MSFT
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:46 AM
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Proposed as answer by
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doing it the other way worked for me
I was getting the error with windows auth
Switched to sql and it worked
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I got the same error 3415 and it was resolved when I opened SQL Server Management Studio with Windows authentification.
Thank you,
Herokey
When i attaching mdf file to SQL Server i am getting error database cannot be upgraded because it is read only or it has read only file. Make sure Database or files are writeable.
asked Dec 11, 2009 at 4:04
1
The database you attach is an previous SQL build. It has to be upgraded and it cannot be upgraded because the file is read only.
answered Dec 11, 2009 at 4:24
Remus RusanuRemus Rusanu
8,2531 gold badge19 silver badges22 bronze badges
before you detach the database in the previous version. Change any read-only file groups to read-write. Microsoft also recommends that you turn on auto-grow if its disabled.
After you’ve attached the database in the new version, can then change the filegroup back to read-only and disable auto-grow.
answered Dec 11, 2009 at 4:30
Nick KavadiasNick Kavadias
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I had this issue when attempting to attach a sql server 2000 database to a sql server 2008 r2 server. Checked that nothing had been marked read only. Ran management studio as administrator, problem solved.
The moral of my story is «Try running management studio as administrator while you do it».
answered Apr 6, 2012 at 0:56
0
In addition to checking any read-write flag on the file, make sure that the security ACLs on the file and the folder that you put it in will allow the login that the SQL Server service is using to access the file. If you are unsure what the acl should look like, find the master.mdf file for your instance, look at the ACL/permissions for that file and then make the permissions for your particular mdf file match.
Also, you don’t mention the ldf. If you are expecting the server to automatically create the ldf file, figure out where it will be creating and make sure that sql server can write files at that location. It would be better to create the database by attaching both the mdf and ldf files and NOT rely on SQL Server to create a missing LDF. There may be updates in the LDF that did not make it to your MDF file.
answered Apr 6, 2012 at 12:17
Darin StraitDarin Strait
2,01212 silver badges6 bronze badges
Thanks,Telarian
I had this issue when attempting to attach a sql server 2000 database to a sql server 2008 r2 server. Checked that nothing had been marked read only. Ran management studio as administrator, problem solved.
The moral of my story is «Try running management studio as administrator while you do it».
=> Running SSMS as an Administrator & giving db owner permission to the user by which you are trying to attach the database resolved my problem.
answered Jul 6, 2017 at 13:23
We have seen a lot of cases from our Customers regarding how to Fix SQL related issues as part of our Server Support Services.
In this context, we shall discuss the causes of this error and how to get it fixed.
Reasons why SQL error 3415 occurs?
When some database users are trying to import a database file to a server, they sometimes see an error message «Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3415«.
This error as earlier stated is mostly due to lack of the necessary permission of the user. In other cases,it is possible that the database is in a read-only mode or its version does not match that of the SQL Servers.
How to solve SQL error 3415
In most cases involving not enough permission of the user, this issue can be resolved by following steps;
1. Navigate to the Microsoft SQL data directory and do a right click action to select the «Properties».
2.Then you will see the Security tab. Click it to see the «Log On As» option of the user and ensure it has the full permission assigned to the directory.
In the case whereby the «Log on AS» user option is «Network Service» or «Local System» , a full permission should be assigned to them.
In other cases, we observed that the error is populated as the database is in read-only mode when the SQL server is trying to upgrade the database but not able to so due to its read-only mode. To solve this issue, the database that has the read-only file group needs to be moved to an instance of the newer SQL Server version. You can read here to know more about how to deal with this.
Should the error persist, you can start the SQL Server Management Studio as an administrator thus eliminating the permission problem since you are starting as an administrator. Another fix is to upgrade the SQL version to a newer version.
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Conclusion
In Summary, you can see that the SQL error 3415 error happens when there is not enough privileges for the user or when the version of then SQL server does not match with the Database one.
Hello
I am using sqlserver2008 Express edition.Now i changed the sql server windows Authentication mode to SQL Server and
windows Authentication mode.but in windows Authentication mode sql attach process working fine .But when i attach the database with user sa in SQL Server and windows Authentication mode ,follwing error occure:-
Attach database failed for Server ‘Vipin-pc’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)
——————————
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=10.50.1600.1+((KJ_RTM).100402-1540+)&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExceptionTemplates.FailedOperationExceptionText&EvtID=Attach+database+Server&LinkId=20476
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabase(String name, StringCollection
files)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlManagerUI.AttachDatabaseData.PrimaryFile.Attach()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlManagerUI.AttachDatabase.SendDataToServer()
===================================
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(String
sqlCommand, ExecutionTypes executionType)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection
sqlCommands, ExecutionTypes executionType)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecutionManager.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection
queries)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabaseWorker(String name,
StringCollection files, String owner, AttachOptions attachOptions)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabase(String name, StringCollection
files)
===================================
Database ‘Logicdb’ cannot be upgraded because it is read-only or has read-only files. Make the
database or files writeable, and rerun recovery. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)
——————————
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=10.50.1600&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=3415&LinkId=20476
——————————
Server Name: Vipin-pc
Error Number: 3415
Severity: 16
State: 2
Line Number: 1
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ConnectionManager.ExecuteTSql(ExecuteTSqlAction
action, Object execObject, DataSet fillDataSet, Boolean catchException)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(String
sqlCommand, ExecutionTypes executionType)
What is the problem.Help me.
Thanks & Regards,
Vipin Kumar,
Software Developer,
Logic Erp Solutions Pvt. Ltd.(Mohali).
Hello
I am using sqlserver2008 Express edition.Now i changed the sql server windows Authentication mode to SQL Server and
windows Authentication mode.but in windows Authentication mode sql attach process working fine .But when i attach the database with user sa in SQL Server and windows Authentication mode ,follwing error occure:-
Attach database failed for Server ‘Vipin-pc’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)
——————————
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=10.50.1600.1+((KJ_RTM).100402-1540+)&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExceptionTemplates.FailedOperationExceptionText&EvtID=Attach+database+Server&LinkId=20476
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabase(String name, StringCollection
files)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlManagerUI.AttachDatabaseData.PrimaryFile.Attach()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlManagerUI.AttachDatabase.SendDataToServer()
===================================
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(String
sqlCommand, ExecutionTypes executionType)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection
sqlCommands, ExecutionTypes executionType)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecutionManager.ExecuteNonQuery(StringCollection
queries)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabaseWorker(String name,
StringCollection files, String owner, AttachOptions attachOptions)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server.AttachDatabase(String name, StringCollection
files)
===================================
Database ‘Logicdb’ cannot be upgraded because it is read-only or has read-only files. Make the
database or files writeable, and rerun recovery. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)
——————————
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=10.50.1600&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=3415&LinkId=20476
——————————
Server Name: Vipin-pc
Error Number: 3415
Severity: 16
State: 2
Line Number: 1
——————————
Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ConnectionManager.ExecuteTSql(ExecuteTSqlAction
action, Object execObject, DataSet fillDataSet, Boolean catchException)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common.ServerConnection.ExecuteNonQuery(String
sqlCommand, ExecutionTypes executionType)
What is the problem.Help me.
Thanks & Regards,
Vipin Kumar,
Software Developer,
Logic Erp Solutions Pvt. Ltd.(Mohali).