Error 15023 User or role already exists

  • Had a hard disk failure on our development machine. Recovered the database file and attached this on a new drive but now get the above message when I try to add a user.

    I have deleted the user manually and also using the drop procedure.

    How can I reinstate users?

  • In preparation to moving my server files to new array, I had to move one database from one server to another. When I tried to add users to the database after the move, I couldn't as they 'already existed.' Luckily I had read about Orphaned Users in this site and others.

    You need to run the following command in the database you are trying to add the user:

    exec sp_revokedbaccess 'login'

    or if it's a domain account

    exec sp_revokedbaccess 'domain\login'

    Then you will be able to add the user or role back in.

    -SQLBill

  • Run the following while you are in ur recovered database.

    sp_change_users_login 'auto_fix',user

    Try this.

    Shamshad Ali.

  • That's a better answer. Bill, if you do the revokedblogin, you have to reset the permissions. SP_Change_users_login will fix the problem more directly. Lot's of information on the site about it.

    StefanJ, this will happen anytime you move an mdf to a new server if you don't do some extra work. One way is the track you're on, add the user, then run sp_change_users_login. A better way is to use sp_addlogin to add the login first with the same SID as on the original server where the mdf came from. Then when you attach everything will line up.

    Andy

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/columnists/awarren/

  • Many thanks for the replies.

    I am a bit new to SQL Server so excuse the dumb questions.

    Tried shamshad solution which did the trick. Just a case of running for each user and then resetting the password from null.

    I will shortly be getting a proper server, we are currently using a standard pc as a test machine.

    I noted Andy's comments and also read the faq "Fixing broken logins and transferring passwords" but am not entirely clear on the steps I should follow to transfer a database from one server to another and preserve the logins.

    If I understand correctly the user ids will transfer OK when I detach and reattach the database file. But somehow I have to transfer the logins, SID, User ID, passwords from the old to the new servers.

    Is there a straightforward (idiot proof), step by step instruction for doing this?

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