As we have a new version of Adventureworks database for SQL Server 2012 RC 0 I wanted to start my testing on the same.I downloaded the mdf file from the Codeplex site.
As this is only the MDF file without LDF I went ahead and tried a attach(Attach Databases option) by removing the LDF file which will ensure that we will get a new LDF created automatically.
Right away I was hit hard by a strange error which said
The physical file name path looked strange to me as I did not had such a path in my server.I tried multiple ways to attach the mdf without an ldf including
EXEC sp_attach_single_file_db @dbname = 'AdventureWorks2008R2', @physname = 'C:\SQL_Data\AdventureWorks2008R2_Data.mdf'
and also using FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG method which Pinal Dave(@pinaldave) clearly explained through his blog post here
Both time same error mentioned above came yet again
File activation failure. The physical file name “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.DENALIRCO\MSSQL\DATA\AdventureWorks2008R2_log.ldf” may be incorrect.
The log cannot be rebuilt when the primary file is read-only.
Msg 1813, Level 16, State 2, Line 1
Could not open new database ‘AdventureWorks2008R2’. CREATE DATABASE is aborted.
Solution – I had a strong feeling that this might be really related to a permission issue and the error message is little mis-leading rather than the actual issue. I went ahead and checked the rights for the Data folder where the mdf file was placed and after re-evaluating and granting permissions to proper SQL accounts the database was attached using normal attach method.
SQLSailor 
Thanks so much.
Been trying to work this out for over an hour.
Simon
Great to know that it helped you.Thanks for the confirmation.
There is no solution posted here; please edit to include the steps taken to fix the issue.
Have you read the section ‘Solution’ which was mentioned in the post.
You will have to check the rights for the Data folder where the mdf file is placed and after re-evaluating and granting permissions to proper SQL accounts the database will be attached using normal attach method.
make a folder and put the sample mdf file ” c:\sql_data\adventureworks2012.mdf ” then right click on sql_data then go to security and click the correspoding user and give full controls. then query create database adventure works2012
on(filename=’c:\sql_data\adventureworks2012.mdf’)
for attach_rebuild_log;
Yes,Security needs to be verified here and proper permission should be granted as mentioned in the ‘Solution’ section of the post.You can either use GUI to do the attach or using T-SQL code as you mentioned by you.Both works after correct permissions are set.
Thank you, it solved an issue at my workplace. great tip.
Great to know and thanks for taking time to provide your feedback…appreciate that !
Just what I needed. Thanks a lot for this post mate!
Thanks for the feedback,happy to hear that it helped you !
thanks a lot ..was hovering over the net all the while for this issue…
Great,glad that you found it helpful !
Thanks a lot!! It saved my time
Glad that you found it useful and thanks for taking time to provide a feedback !
MEGA THANK YOU is Working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to know that !
Thanks for your answer… it worked!!!
Great to know…Thanks for the feedback !
ugh , saved my sanity. folder permissions. Thanks v. much.
Sure, thanks for the feedback !