SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : Msg 15151, Level 16, State 1, Line 2 Cannot alter the login ‘sa’, because it does not exist or you do not have permission

December 26, 2008 by pinaldave

Few days ago, I have wrote about SQL SERVER – DISABLE and ENABLE user SA I received following email from one of the user who received following error.

Msg 15151, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
Cannot alter the login ‘sa’, because it does not exist or you do not have permission.

Fix/Workaround/Solution:
This error had occurred because of insufficient rights. Please read my previous post here before reading further article.

SA is system admin user and it is the highest level of user in system. If any user have to modify the permissions of SA that user needs to have higher or equivalent rights as SA user. Users member of systemadmin group are can only change the rights of SA user.

First adding any user to systemadmin role and then using the same user to modify system admin’s tool will fix the issue.

Reference : Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com)

Posted in Pinal Dave, Readers Question, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Error Messages, SQL Query, SQL Scripts, SQL Security, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, T SQL, Technology | 6 Comments

6 Responses

on December 26, 2008 at 11:20 am | Reply Imran Mohammed

I am trying to disable BUILTIN\Administrators

ALTER LOGIN [BUILTIN\Administrators] DISABLE

gives me this error.

Msg 15151, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Cannot alter the login ‘BUILTIN\Administrators’, because it does not exist or you do not have permission.

I am logged in as “SA”

Thanks,
IM
on December 27, 2008 at 11:22 pm | Reply Hoang Nguyen

Hi Mr Dave !

I’m Hoang Nguyen. I had abig trouble and need to explrore so much.

I installed SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, but in my VIEW options, i can not find out where is Solution Explorer and Toolbox windows, help me pls. What problem is that ???

Pic of my SQL Management Studio here:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh308/Spector_photos/pic-1.jpg
on December 29, 2008 at 11:29 am | Reply Imran Mohammed

@Hoang

This is because may be you have SQL Server Management Studio Express.

You might want to download SQL Server EXPRESS Edition (Free) , with which you will get free client tools.

This client tools will have solution explorer and tools.

Download SQL server Express edition from this link.

Link : http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=65212

Download this file and run this file.

Regards,
Imran.
on February 25, 2009 at 12:22 pm | Reply SQL SERVER - Add Any User to SysAdmin Role - Add Users to System Roles Journey to SQL Authority with Pinal Dave

[...] SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : Msg 15151, Level 16, State 1, Line 2 Cannot alter the login ’sa’, bec… [...]
on April 23, 2010 at 4:19 pm | Reply wayne

I cannot see “solution explorer” under the view tab in sql server 2005 management studio express.

the first time I installed SQLEXPR.EXE and connected to database and I couldn’t see “solution explorer” on the view tab. so I uninstalled it.

next Iinstalled SQLEXPR32.EXE and I still didn’t see “solution explorer” under the view tab in 2005 management studio.

can you tell me what to do.

also, I wanted to know if i install sql server 2008 express will I be able to see “solution explorer” tab in 2008 express management studio.

Thank you so much

wayne
on April 24, 2010 at 2:13 pm | Reply wayne

hello mr. dave, i submitted a question about object explorer. I am currnently running sql server 2005 express.

when i login and connect to object explorer and can see the databases and I it work find. But i noticed that i do not see the solution explorer when I click on the view tab.

is there a way that i can add solution explorer to the view under the view tab in management studio 2005 express?

I would like to use solution explorer if possible.
Thanks

Wayne