Change default location for SharePoint Database files: .mdf .ldf

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When installing SharePoint, you may have decided you want to keep your data files for the database on a separate directory / drive.  However, you need to keep in mind that the SharePoint installer is going to create the databases for you automatically. 

To change where the config and content databases are created, you need to change the default file location within SQL Server itself prior to installation. After doing that, when you install SharePoint, it will create the databases in the appropriate locations, one of your choosing.  

To change the default location for the SharePoint databases:

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio.  Right Click on your server name and select Properties

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  2. Select the Database Settings page.  Change the directory path for the Data files and the Log files.

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note: I have had one instance where they didn't... After scratching my head a little bit, a reboot of the SharePoint server resolved the issue. I guess there was a connection still open.  

 

- Dan