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What is SQL Error 5173 and How to Fix It

👤 Andrew Jackson | Published: February 22nd, 2025 | SQL | 6 Minutes Reading

With the SQL server environment, there are numerous errors a user generally encounters. An error like SQL Error 5173, can directly impact the user’s operation on the database and cause multiple challenges while accessing the database. 

In this write-up, we will be discussing the same error and how it affects the users and the database. We will also discuss the causes and the challenges of this error, to effectively resolve and fix it for users’ convenience. 

What is SQL Server Error 5173?

This SQL database error simply points out that there is an issue with the database files and due to the same reason, the SQL Server is unable to attach the database files. There can be multiple reasons for the error to occur. This SQL error restricts the user from attaching the database and accessing the data in it. Here are some of the causes of this error: 

MDF and LDF File Mismatch

One reason for the SQL Error 5173 is the mismatch of the database files. If the MDF file is from one database and the LDF file is from another database, the server will reject it from attaching. This further leads to the occurrence of this error. 

Attach or Detach Process Not Done Properly

If you have not attached the database to the SQL Server, or have not detached the database properly, it will result in the error. This can happen due to the reference existence of some of the files of the SQL database that were improperly detached from the database. 

Database Corruption 

This can be one of the major reasons for the issues while attaching the database to SQL Server. If the database files (MDF, NDF) are corrupted, the users will face challenges and end up with SQL Server Error 5173.

Database Already Exists in the SQL Server

If there are multiple databases with a similar name in the server, and you wish to attach it to the SQL Server, you might face errors while doing so. With the same name as the database, users might encounter issues while attaching the database. 

These are the causes that might trigger SQL Error 5173. Now, let’s take a look at the challenges faced by the users to understand the issue better and find the best ways to resolve the error. 

Challenges Created Due to Error 

Database Inaccessibility

With the occurrence of the error, the major impact falls on the SQL Database, restricting the users from accessing the database. This can lead them to be unable to access the database or operate on the affected database. 

Data Loss or Corruption Risks

If the users try to forcefully attach the database to the SQL Server, they might end up corrupting the database and losing the data permanently. This can also result in some serious challenges for the users regarding the database and server safety. 

Disruptions in Applications

The applications that rely on the database for their operations might end up getting disruptions during the database attachment. This can also affect the organization’s and business’s workflow. 

Backup and Recovery Issues

If the database gets corrupted during the forceful attaching process, and the users do not have a proper backup of those files. 

Security Challenges  

With the database inaccessibility and attachment challenges, users might face many obstacles. There are many security risks and privacy concerns associated with SQL Error 5173. 

To resolve this error and seamlessly access the database files, we will take a look at multiple solutions. These solutions will help you resolve the error and make the database accessible again for the users. 

How to Resolve the SQL Error 5173?

There are numerous solutions that will help you resolve the error. We will understand these solutions one by one depending on the cause of the error. 

Method- 1: With the Help of DBCC CHECKDB 

The first method is to repair the database using the DBCC CHECKDB command. The DBCC CHECKDB command helps with detecting any issue with the database and also repairs the issues present in the database. To check the database for any issues, or corruption, use the following command:

DBCC CHECKDB (‘DB_NAME’);
GO

In case any corruption is detected, use the repair modes provided by DBCC itself. The three modes of repair provided by DBCC CHECKDB are REPAIR_FAST, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS, and REPAIR_REBUILD.

Here we are considering a case of a minor corruption in the database.

To repair the corruption, use the given command:

DBCC CHECKDB (‘DB_NAME’, REPAIR_FAST);
GO

This command will repair the minor corruption within the database and resolve the SQL Error 5173. Moving on to the next method, let’s understand how it works to solve the errors. 

Advanced Solution To Fix the ‘SQL Error 5173’ Issue

One of the reasons for this error to occur is due to the corruption in the SQL database files. So to resolve this issue more professionally, we recommend using an expert solution. The solution we are talking about is the SQL Database Repair Tool.

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Let’s now take a look at the steps to how the tool works. This tool will help you repair any corruption in the database file and fix the SQL Server Error 5173. 

The steps to this solution are as follows:

  1. Install and launch the software. Click on the Open button to add MDF files to the software.
  2. Next, two scanning modes, Quick Scan, and Advanced Scan will be provided, choose one. 
  3. After the scan, you will be provided with the recovered files. Preview the recovered files.
  4. After that, click on the export button. 
  5. Add the necessary credentials. Click on the export button to fix the error 5173 in SQL Server. 

For the next solution, let’s understand how it works and how it will help to resolve the error efficiently. 

Method – 2: Rebuild the SQL Log File to Fix the Error 

The occurrence of this error can be due to misconfiguration or unavailability of the SQL log files. So to fix this issue, we can rebuild the log file and then attach it to the SQL database. The steps for the same are given below: 

  1. Put the SQL database in offline mode. Use the following command:

    ALTER DATABASE ‘DBNAME’ SET OFFLINE;
  2. With the help of the next command, create the log file for a specific MDF file

    CREATE DATABASE ‘DB_NAME’ ON
(FILENAME = MDF_FILE_PATH)
FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG;

These commands will help you to fix the error and access the database again easily. All these solutions will help you to efficiently resolve the error and make the database accessible again. 

Conclusion

With the help of this write-up, we have discussed how challenging it becomes to access or work on the database when SQL Error 5173 occurs. We have also understood the challenges as well as the causes that come with the error. To help the users with resolving the error, we have provided a few solutions.