Features
SQL Server cannot start because the -e startup parameter points to a folder or file that does not exist, so the service cannot create or write the error log.
Unable to open error log file. Operating system error = 3 occurs when SQL Server’s -e startup parameter points to a non-existent path, blocking startup. Correct the error-log path in SQL Server Configuration Manager or create the folder, then restart the service.
Unable to open error log file. Operating system error = 3(The system cannot find the path specified.).
SQL Server raises this startup error when it cannot find or create the ERRORLOG file at the location defined by the -e parameter. The Windows service aborts before databases are mounted, leaving the instance offline.Fixing the path or folder permissions restores normal startup and prevents data-access outages.
Missing folder triggers the error first. If an administrator moves log files without updating the -e registry value, SQL Server cannot locate the new directory and fails.Incorrect file name also breaks startup. Typing ERRORLOG.txt instead of ERRORLOG means the engine looks for a file that does not exist and aborts.Restricted NT SERVICE\MSSQLSERVER permissions stop SQL Server from creating the log even when the folder exists, producing the same error string.
Validate the current path in SQL Server Configuration Manager → Properties → Startup Parameters. Confirm the -e value points to an existing folder.Edit the path or create the missing folder with the correct ACLs. Grant Full Control to the SQL Server service account, then restart the Windows service.Use T-SQL xp_readerrorlog after restart to verify new entries are written, confirming success.
After in-place upgrades, setup sometimes appends an extra backslash to the path. Remove the trailing backslash and restart.Cluster migrations copy only data drives, skipping system drives that contain the ERRORLOG path. Re-create the folder on every node before bringing the instance online.
Store ERRORLOG on a dedicated drive letter that persists across upgrades and migrations.Automate nightly checks that run EXEC xp_fixeddrives and xp_readerrorlog to confirm the log is writable.Capture configuration with sp_readerrorlog 0, 1 and source-control the startup parameter list.
“Error 17058: initerrlog” appears when the -e path is empty. Use the same fix: supply a valid path.“The system cannot find the file specified. Error 2” occurs for master database files. Verify -d and -l paths in addition to -e.
– Folder specified by the -e startup parameter was deleted or moved.– File name in the -e parameter was renamed or mistyped.– SQL Server service account lacks write permissions on the target folder.– Operating-system drive letter changed after storage re-mapping.– Antivirus or backup software locked the ERRORLOG file during startup.
• Error 17058: initerrlog – generic startup failure when error log path is empty.• Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified – master database files missing.• 1814: Could not create tempdb – insufficient disk space or incorrect tempdb path.
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager, right-click the service, choose Properties → Startup Parameters, or query the registry key ErrorLogPath.
Yes. You must stop the SQL Server service, update the -e parameter, create the folder, and start the service again.
Not safely. Move the file only during scheduled maintenance, update the -e parameter, and restart to avoid partial writes.
Galaxy continuously streams ERRORLOG entries to its console, alerting engineers when SQL Server fails and guiding them to misconfigured startup parameters before production SLA breaches occur.
.avif){kind=logo}
