Detaching and Reattaching a Content Database

Detach

The easiest way to detach a content database is thru the UI in Central Administration.

Central Administration -> Application Management -> Content Databases

Click on the link for the Content Database you want to detach. Make a note of the name of the database. Check the 'Remove content database' checkbox. Click OK. This removes but does not delete the database.

Attach

If the Content database is larger, then attaching it is best done using stsadm. Login to the SharePoint server. Bring up a cmd window. Run the following command: stsadm -o addcontentdb -url [url] -databasename [database name]

You can also attach smaller databases using the UI in Central Administration.

Central Administration -> Application Management -> Content Databases

Click 'Add a content database'. Specify the database name you jotted down when detaching. Click OK.