MDF and LDF files not removed after DELETED or DROP databases

Question

Recently, we noticed many .mdf and .ldf files didn't get removed after DELETE databases on our SQL Server 2005/2008.

1. Those databases have been removed successfully from their instances in last two years either via GUI (SSMS--Databases--Delete) or TSQL (DROP database 'UserDB');

2. Those databases are not listed in existing instances if "select * from sys.databases or sys.master_files";

3. Those .mdf and .ldf can be deleted from NTFS folders directly (they are not orphaned databases).

4. Unfortunately, I am not able to re-produce it anymore.

Any helps to this question would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi Nasa,

This can happen if database if offline at the time of deletion/dorp...In this case files are not removed from filesystem.

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- Chintak (My Blog)

Answer 2

Hi Chintak,

Great thanks for the knowledge transfer. Yes, that explained.  :-)

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Nasha