Cannot access the specified path or file on the server. Verify that you have the necessary security privileges and that the path or file exists

If you received below error while attaching a .mdf file in cluster environment please follow below steps to resolve the issue

ERROR
Cannot access the specified path or file on the server. Verify that you have the necessary security privileges and that the path or file exists.

Cannot use file 'D:\MSSQL\Data\AttachDemoDatabase.mdf' for clustered server. Only formatted files on which the cluster resource of the server has a dependency can be used. Either the disk resource containing the file is not present in the cluster group or the cluster resource of the Sql Server does not have a dependency on it.

Problem (Cause):
May be the contained file disk not added to the cluster resource
OR
Disk not added as SQL Server resource dependency
Check as below
Goto to failover cluster manager -->  Expand Roles --> select Role --> goto Resources Tab --> Right click on SQL Server properties and
In SQL Server properties window click on dependencies there you need to see disks information

 


Resolution:
SQL Stopping you to create Database on D drive which is not a dependency of the SQL Server. Dependency tell OS the order in which they can come online. The child resource must come online before an attempt is made to bring parent resource online in a cluster. And this chain is an important aspect of SQL Clustering. A resource group has several resources in it. All the resources in a single resource group act as a single group. They failover as a one unit; Thus providing high availability on the available nodes.
Need to add this new drive to the dependency chain for SQL Server Resource Group.
--> Goto Failover Cluster Manager

--> Under the cluster name select Role
--> In right hand pane Select the Resource Group that contain SQL Server Resources.
--> In bottom window  select Resource Tab
--> Under Other resources Right click on SQL Server as shown in below image

--> In properties window Click on Insert Button

--> On add a row select Share Disk D that stores you database data files (.mdf)
--> In next row add all other required share disk which will stores your database log files and your server database backups and tempdb files.

-->  Make Sure that all resources are required (there is an AND next to subsequent resources) then click OK

Now you are good to go to attach your .mdf file to create database with existing data file.