This section describes how to fully restore your SQL server, after your PC or disk crashes.
First, reinstall Windows 2003/2000/NT/XP and make a full restore of your PC's hard drive(s) and reboot, as described under Full Restore., or resetup your System with Disaster Recovery (ASR). Don't restore the SQL databases yet, just the normal files, and System State. This will restore your entire SQL installation, but not the databases. Because there is no master database at that time, the SQL server cannot start yet after reboot.
Use the following procedure, which is standard and documented in the SQL server documentation, for full restore.
Build a default master database with the rebuildm utility from SQL server binary directory (e.g. C:\MSSQL7\Binn\rebuildm.exe). You will need the SQL server CD for this, or the database files from the CD available at some known location. This will allow SQL server to start, because it has a master database, although it is not yet the correct one which was backed up.
Start SQL server manually in single user mode, with command sqlservr -m manually from the command prompt (sqlservr.exe is from SQL server binary directory, e.g. C:\MSSQL7\Binn\sqlservr.exe).
Start Stratesave restore program and restore the master database only. After master database is restored, SQL server will stop automatically.
Start the SQL server service MSSQLServer, manually with Services from Control panel -> Administrative Tools or through reboot.
Restore the SQL databases except master.
See also: Backup and restore of SQL server