database vanishes like a David Blaine prop

[BobLewiston]

I've been working with SQL2008 AdventureWorks; specifically database AdventureWorks, table Person.Contact.

I experimented with using a DataGrid control's DataSource property to add a new project data source to the DataGrid, although my code was written to access the database without using a DataGrid. My code was unable to do so because, naturally enough, the database was already in use by the DataGrid.

However, when I removed the DataGrid, to my surprise the AdventureWorks database was just plain gone. That's right, not corrupted, but gone from the disk without a trace. The other databases (AdventureWorksDW, AdventureWorksDW2008, AdventureWorksLT, AdventureWorksLT2008, ReportServer$SQLEXPRESS, ReportServer$SQLEXPRESSTempDB) were still there, but not the database named simply "AdventureWorks".

So I reinstalled AdventureWorks. Now here's the part where you all conclude I've lost my mind: AdventureWorks installed without any problem - but no database named simply "AdventureWorks". No "Person.Contact" table, even in any of the other databases. No sign of them, no explanation.

But you can look up the AdventureWorks schema online and see that they DO exist. So I'm NOT insane after all - honest, fellas, I’m not dangerous, it’s all right to talk to me.

So wha’d’ya think is going on here?

[r035198x]

How did you reinstall the database? Did you get any messages? How did you determine that the database is there but has no tables?

P.S This message was posted while running as fast as I can in the opposite direction to the general direction of the OP.

[BobLewiston]

r035198x:

How did you reinstall the database?

I ran the AdventureWorks setup program “SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x86.msi” twice - the first time to uninstall AdventureWorks (which is the only thing the setup program will do when AdventureWorks is already installed), and the second time to reinstall AdventureWorks.

Did you get any messages?

No.

How did you determine that the database is there but has no tables?

SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x86.msi installs seven databases: AdventureWorks, AdventureWorksDW, AdventureWorksDW2008, AdventureWorksLT, AdventureWorksLT2008, ReportServer$SQLEXPRESS and ReportServer$SQLEXPRESSTempDB. The one database that I was using, "AdventureWorks", contains the table that I was using, "Person.Contact". Database "AdventureWorks” is no longer showing up in SQL Server 2008 Express, although the other six databases are.

Is it possible that database "AdventureWorks” IS there and SQL Server 2008 Express simply refuses to show it because it now "belongs to" another fictitious, non-logged-in user that was somehow conjured into being by DataGrid control's DataSource?

(I can't just look for the files in Windows Explorer. These databases are somehow hidden in other files that, although I know they reside in subfolders of C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Samples, I've never been able to locate precisely.)

This message was posted while running as fast as I can in the opposite direction to the general direction of the OP.

What’s “the OP”?

[r035198x]

It seems now clear then that the database hadn't disappeared in the first place(the uninstall confirms that).
Can you connect to it from the command line?

OP = Original poster

[BobLewiston]

r035198x:

It seems now clear then that the database hadn't disappeared in the first place(the uninstall confirms that).

No - as I said above:

SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x86.msi installs seven databases: AdventureWorks, AdventureWorksDW, AdventureWorksDW2008, AdventureWorksLT, AdventureWorksLT2008, ReportServer$SQLEXPRESS and ReportServer$SQLEXPRESSTempDB. The one database that I was using, "AdventureWorks", contains the table that I was using, "Person.Contact". Database "AdventureWorks” is no longer showing up in SQL Server 2008 Express, although the other six databases are.

The uninstall removes the other six databases.

Can you connect to it from the command line?

I'm a newbie - I don't know how to do that. Can you tell me?

[BobLewiston]

r035198x:

This message was posted while running as fast as I can in the opposite direction to the general direction of the O(riginal) P(oster).

I'm sorry, I don't understand this sentence.

[r035198x]

Do you have Visual Studio and did you download the MSDN library when you downloaded it? If you did then there is an SQL server manual somewhere in it which explains how to connect to the database from the command line. See if you can find it.

Oh and as for that OP sentence, I was taking precautions because you did say

So I'm NOT insane after all - honest, fellas, I’m not dangerous, it’s all right to talk to me.