ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database

Question

I need to restart a database because some processes are not working. My plan is to take it offline and back online again.

I am trying to do this in Sql Server Management Studio 2008:

use master;
go
alter database qcvalues
set single_user
with rollback immediate;
alter database qcvalues
set multi_user;
go

I am getting these errors:

Msg 5061, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database 'qcvalues'. Try again later.
Msg 5069, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
ALTER DATABASE statement failed.
Msg 5061, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database 'qcvalues'. Try again later.
Msg 5069, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
ALTER DATABASE statement failed.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

After you get the error, run

EXEC sp_who2

Look for the database in the list. It's possible that a connection was not terminated. If you find any connections to the database, run

KILL <SPID>

where <SPID> is the SPID for the sessions that are connected to the database.

Try your script after all connections to the database are removed.

Unfortunately, I don't have a reason why you're seeing the problem, but here is a link that shows that the problem has occurred elsewhere.

http://www.geakeit.co.uk/2010/12/11/sql-take-offline-fails-alter-database-failed-because-a-lock-could-not-error-5061/