Manual Fixes – SQL Server Could Not Open Error Log File

Written By Akash Bhadwal
Updated on January 28th, 2022

SQL Server is mainly used for storing data and maintaining a record of all the corporate activities going into the organization. Primarily all the data is stored in MDF and NDF files. But all the transaction that is done is stored in LDF file format. LDF file is also known as the log file, which shows all the details of transactions going on the SQL Server. But I am sure that you must be unaware of the Error Log file different from LDF files.

Table of Contents

What is an Error Log File in MS SQL?

Error Log File contains the user-defined events, and sometimes it is used to fix the system’s problems. This file comprises all the details related to Database mail, Windows Events, Audit Collection, SQL Server Job, Data Collection, Job History, and other information. If you want to see the activities in SSMS, you can see the summary report in this file.

Problems Related to the Error Log File

Sometimes SQL Server Could not open the Error Log File, and the user could not view all the information. Therefore, in this article, I will share some of the methods that would help you open the Error Logfile of the SQL Server.

Methods to Open SQL Server Error Log File

Method 1

Open Configuration Manager in SQL Server.
In the left option, select the SQL Server Services option.
Make a Right-Click on SQL Server present on the right panel and click on Properties.
Now, click on the Startup Parameters tab.
After the –e parameter notes the location.
Open the Log location E:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.MSSQLSERVER \MSSQL\Log”.
Make a Right Click on the Log Folder and Click on properties.
Go to the Security Tab and then check SQL Server Service Account permission.
Now, Restart the SQL Server Service. If the same error occurs again, change the privileged service account to Local System.

Method 2

If the manual method fails to open the error log file of the SQL server, then you must try an automated solution. The SQL Log Analyzer by Aryson will help you view and read all the content of the Error Log file. This software will also help you recover transactional queries like INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. You can also see the steps to open the SQL Server Error Log File.

Steps to View SQL Server Error Log File

Download and Launch SQL Log Analyzer on your system.
Add the LDF File that is showing the error.
Preview all the folders present in the LDF file.
Now, Mark the operation you want to open and read.
Click on OK Button, and the saving process will start.
Once all the files are saved, you can open them and see the error log file.

Why Professional Tool is Better than Manual Methods

Quickly Open Transaction Log files of the SQL Server.
Display the collation type of the file that you can’t see in the manual methods.
It displays all the information of folders in a tree-structured form.
Retrieve transaction queries like INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATES.
Easy steps to apply to the error log file.
Even a novice user can follow the steps in the tool.
Support all types of LDF files created on different versions of MS SQL Server.

Conclusion

Well, you know what to do when SQL Server Could not open the Error Log file. You can also follow the manual methods for viewing the error log file. If the manual steps are complex, you can use the SQL Log analyzer software to open the error log file on the SQL server. This software doesn’t need a lot of technical expertise as its interface is simple. Therefore the risk of any error while opening an error log file is also very low. Now it depends on you which method you want to follow. I would recommend you spend some bucks and go for the optimum solution, SQL Log Analyzer software.

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About The Author:

Akash Bhadwal

Akash Bhadwal is a Technical Content Writer at Aryson Technologies. He writes about Data Recovery, Email Backup, Email Migration, and DIY Technology for Linux/Windows/Mac systems. He has over 3 years of writing experience in fields of AI, Big Data, Cloud, Database, IoT, and Robotics.

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