Detect, and then delete orphaned items in Windows SharePoint Services content databases

You can use the Stsadm.exe command-line tool with the databaserepair operation to detect, and then delete the following orphaned items in Windows SharePoint Services:

• A Windows SharePoint Services Web site that does not have a parent Windows SharePoint Services Web site.
• A subweb that does not have a parent Windows SharePoint Services Web site
• A list that does not have a parent Windows SharePoint Services Web site
• A document that does not have a parent document library
• A list item that does not have a parent list
• A Web page that does not have a parent Windows SharePoint Services Web site

The databaserepair operation uses the following parameters:

• Required parameters: url, databasename
• Optional parameter: deletecorruption

The syntax that the Stsadm.exe command-line tool and the databaserepair operation uses is as follows:

• To detect orphaned items, use the following command line:
  stsadm -o databaserepair -url http://URLofWindowsSharePointServicesSite -databasename DatabaseName
• To delete orphaned items, use the following command line:
  stsadm -o databaserepair -url http://URLofWindowsSharePointServicesSite -databasename DatabaseName -deletecorruption