Msg 5120, Level 16, State 101, Line 4
Unable to open the physical file “C:\NewDB\NewDatabase.mdf”.
Operating system error 5: “5(Access is denied.)”.
Msg 1802, Level 16, State 7, Line 4
CREATE DATABASE failed
If you are grappling with the same error or want to know How to fix Microsoft SQL Server error 5120 ? If yes, continue reading the blog. In this article, we outlined the complete method to resolve “unable to open the physical file “ error without any trouble.
Understanding the Microsoft SQL Server Error 5120
The error 5120 usually indicates that something was wrong while accessing the Master Database File (MDF) or Transaction Log File (LDF) , due to lack of permission. Because of this error, the user is unable to open the physical file in SQL Server database. If you are encountering the same problem then read the entire blog. Here , you will find the best and reliable solution to fix this issue.
Possible Reasons Behind Microsoft SQL 5120 Error
As we mentioned earlier, Microsoft SQL Server error 5120 primarily indicates that something is wrong with accessing the MDF and LDF file, due to insufficient file permission. There are several reasons why this occurs. Here are some of them:
- Insufficient Disk Space
- Firewall or Anti Software Issue
- Corruption in MDF or LDF file
- Inaccurate File Path
- Incorrect Configuration or Password
These are the most common reasons behind this error occurrence. Now, you are well aware of the reasons behind this issue. Let’s discuss different techniques that help you to fix this issue.
Methods to Fix Microsoft SQL Server Error
In this segment, we will discuss some of the common methods available on the internet to accomplish the task. Let’s have a look on them:
- Manual Solution
- Professional Solution
Also Read : How to Fix Microsoft SQL Server Error 233 Login Failed Error Quickly
# 1 Troubleshoot Microsoft SQL Server Error 5120 (Access Denied) With Manual Techniques
Here, we mentioned the manual technique to do the task. First, you need to find the SQL service account manager within your SQL Server. After recognizing the service account, follow the below mentioned steps.
Step 1: First, right-click on your database files and click on Properties.
Step 2: Navigate to the Security tab and hit on Edit.
Step 3: Next, Click on the Add button.
Step 4: Then, type the object name and choose NT Service\MSSQL$SQL. Press on the Check Names button for verification. After this, MSSQL$SQL database would be created.
Step 5: Thereafter, press “OK” to save the changes.
Step 6: Next, assign full control to this Microsoft SQL service account. Click on OK.
Step 7: Now, try attaching your SQL Server MDF database and you no longer must struggle with SQL 5120 error.
Also Read : Troubleshoot SQL Server Does Not Exist or Access Denied Error without any headache.
# 2 Fix Microsoft SQL Server Error 5120 Using the Expert Solution
If the aforementioned procedure fails to give results, consider using the trusted SysTools SQL Database Recovery Tool. This tool is specially designed to repair corrupted Master Database Files (MDF) or Transaction Log Files (LDF). It allows users to preview and recover deleted database objects such as triggers, tables, functions, stored procedures,views, and more.
Furthermore, the software is compatible with various SQL Server versions, including 2022,2019, 2017, 2016, and earlier versions. With this application, users can easily recover deleted records in SQL Server along with all associated objects. The tool offers two scan mode options: Quick for minor database file corruptions and Advanced for highly corrupted MDF Files
Follow the step by step procedure to resolve the Microsoft SQL Server Error 5120
Step 1. Download and run the software application on your System and click on the open option to upload the MDF file.
Step 2. Next, choose the scan mode as per your need and select the SQL Server version. Also, check the recovered delete dialogue box to recover deleted items.
Step 3. After scanning , preview data stored in the MDF file here.
Step 4. Here, select the export option either “SQL Server Database” or “SQL Server Compatible SQL Scripts”.
Step 5. Thereafter, Click on the Export button to finalise the complete process.
Concluding Words
In this blog, we described the entire procedure to resolve Microsoft SQL Server error 5120 unable to open the physical file. Here, we discussed both manual and expert solutions to do so. In some cases, when the MDF file is damaged and corrupted, it is difficult to fix it using manual technique. We highly recommend you to opt for the expert solution. It is tried and tested by many IT professionals.
