How to fix Error 2745 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: SQL Server Error 2745 — “Process ID %d has raised user error %d”

Why This Error Happens

Error 2745 occurs when a T-SQL statement, trigger, or stored procedure calls RAISERROR with a message number that does not exist in the sys.messages catalog view. This typically happens due to a custom error message that was never registered via sp_addmessage, a database migration that failed to carry over custom message definitions, or a typo in the error number referenced within application code. In SQL Server 2025, this can also surface after an in-place upgrade if custom messages stored in the master database were not properly migrated.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Identify the Missing Message Number

  • Check the SQL Server Error Log (via SSMS > Management > SQL Server Logs, or EXEC xp_readerrorlog) to capture the exact user error number being raised.
  • Note the Process ID (SPID) and timestamp to correlate with the application or job that triggered the call.
  • Run the following query to confirm whether the message exists:
  SELECT * FROM sys.messages WHERE message_id = <error_number>;

Step 2: Register the Missing Custom Message

  • If the message does not exist, add it using sp_addmessage:
  EXEC sp_addmessage 
      @msgnum = 50001, 
      @severity = 16, 
      @msgtext = N'Custom error message text here.', 
      @lang = 'us_english';
  • Ensure the message number is above 50000, as numbers below this range are reserved for system messages.
  • If this is a multi-instance environment, verify the same message exists on the Windows Server 2025 failover partner or secondary replicas.

Step 3: Audit and Correct the Calling Code

  • Open the stored procedure, trigger, or application code that issues the RAISERROR statement.
  • Confirm the message ID referenced matches exactly what was registered in sys.messages (check for transposed digits or environment-specific IDs, e.g., Dev vs. Prod mismatches).
  • Update the code to use the correct message ID or switch to an ad-hoc message format if a persistent custom message isn’t required:
  RAISERROR (N'Ad-hoc error text: %s', 16, 1, 'DetailInfo');

Step 4: Validate Post-Migration Message Integrity (If Applicable)

  • If this error appeared after upgrading to SQL Server 2025 on Windows Server 2025, re-run the sp_addmessage script from your pre-migration backup documentation, as custom messages in master are not always carried over during in-place upgrades.
  • Cross-check against the master database backup taken before migration to extract the original list of custom messages.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Re-execute the failing stored procedure or job manually in SSMS to confirm the error no longer appears in the Error Log or Activity Monitor.
  • If the issue persists, run DBCC CHECKDB on the affected database to rule out system catalog corruption as a root cause for inconsistent message records.