Moving SQL Server CER Files?

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Moving SQL Server CER Files?

Sorry Dave

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June 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm

#192026

I just completed an install of SQL Server 2005 on a 2-node (active/active) cluster. When done, I discovered that I had forgot to change the "Data Drive" to
X:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
so everything got installed to
X:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
I just completed the (overly laborious, IMO) process of moving the system databases to
X:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
and now am left with just 3 files in the oringinal folder.
They are .CER files, identified as "Security Certificates". I think there are 3 because this was the 3rd attempt at an install (long story -- don't ask).
What I would like to know is do I need to move those files? CAN I move those files? We'd just as soon not have the
X:\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
folder at all, for cleanliness' sake.
And while I have your attention, my boss was uneasy about me just moving the system DBs, rather than doing an uninstall and a re-install. (I was uneasy about THAT method because it's on a cluster which can add complexity to normally straightforward actions). So, to ease his (and my) mind, can you suggest any activities to make sure we truly have a good, clean install? I have created a database on both instances of the cluster's virtual servers and failed the instances back and forth, rebooted, etc... But if we proceed and start putting production databases on there and something goes awry in, say, 3 months that's due to the above folder snafu, my arse will be in the fire.
Thanks in advance for all of your input.
-dave