SQL Server cannot find or access the ERRORLOG file because the path is missing or permissions are wrong, stopping the service from starting.
“Unable to open error log file. Operating system error = 3” appears when SQL Server cannot find the ERRORLOG path. Check the -e startup parameter, verify the folder exists, and grant the SQL Server service account read-write rights to resolve the issue.
Unable to open error log file. Operating system error = 3
The message means SQL Server failed to locate or access its ERRORLOG during startup.
Operating system error 3 maps to “The system cannot find the path specified,” so the engine halts before initialization finishes.
Because ERRORLOG is the first file SQL Server touches, any path or permission problem triggers this fatal error and prevents the service from running.
The error surfaces at service startup, cluster failover, install, or after a manual restart.
It is logged in the Windows Application log and SQL Server Setup log before the service terminates.
Administrators usually see Event ID 17058 paired with error 3, indicating SQL Server shut down due to the missing log path.
SQL Server cannot start without its error log.
Until the path issue is resolved, databases remain offline, scheduled jobs fail, and applications lose connectivity, risking downtime and potential data loss.
Path changes, deleted folders, wrong startup parameters, incorrect service account permissions, and antivirus blocks commonly trigger this error. Virtualized or containerized environments often face mount-point issues that break the ERRORLOG path.
Operating system error = 3”
Verify the -e startup parameter, recreate or correct the folder, and grant modify rights to the SQL Server service account. Then restart the service and confirm the error log opens successfully.
After patching, installer changes default paths—update SQL Server Configuration Manager. Storage migration removes old drive—create a junction or edit the registry.
Service account change loses NTFS rights—reassign permissions or revert the account.
Store ERRORLOG on persistent storage, automate path validation, use configuration management, and monitor the Windows Event Log for early warnings.
Operating system error 2 (file not found) and error 5 (access denied) arise from similar root causes; fix them by checking paths and permissions in the same way.
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager, right-click the service, choose Properties, and review the -e parameter under Startup Parameters.
Yes. Stop the service, move or create the folder on the new drive, update the -e parameter, grant permissions, and restart.
Galaxy’s desktop SQL editor monitors connection failures and surfaces startup errors instantly, allowing engineers to diagnose path issues faster and share fixes within their team.
Yes. SQL Server reads the -e parameter only at startup. Changing the path or permissions requires a restart to take effect.
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