Error: "The request failed or the service did not respond in a timely fashion. Consult the event log or other applicable error logs for details error when starting SQL Server instance"

THIS ARTICLE ASSUMES AN IT-LEVEL (ADVANCED) USER

If you need assistance, contact tech support

This error is commonly caused by a corrupt Master database in SQL Server. You will have to rebuild the database.

1. Open Windows Explorer and go to the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.ESHA\MSSQL. If you are not running the \ESHA instance of SQL Server, the MSSQL10_50.ESHA may have a different name.
2. Rename the folder "DATA." You can simply rename it "DATA.old."
3. Create a new folder in this directory named "DATA."
4. Open the "Template Data" folder and copy all of the files in this directory.
5. Paste the copy of these files into the newly created C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.ESHA\MSSQL\DATA folder.
6. Go to SQL Server Configuration Manager and try to start the SQL Server Service again, it should start now.
7. Test your application to confirm it now works.
8. If you continue to have problems, contact ESHA support.