Checking That a Patch Really Installed means comparing full versions, reading Setup summary logs, and confirming the startup error log.
SQL SERVER – Service Pack Error – The User Data directory in the registry is not valid. Verify DefaultData key under the instance hive points to a valid directory
Service pack 2 on SQL Server 2012 failed with: The User Data directory in the registry is not valid. Here is how the DefaultData registry key caused it.
SQL SERVER – WARNING – SQL Server Has Encountered N Occurrence(s) of I/O Requests Taking Longer Than 15 Seconds
Seeing ‘I/O requests taking longer than 15 seconds’ in the ERRORLOG? Here is what this common warning means and where to look for the slow disk behind it.
SQL SERVER – SSIS and How to Load Binary Large Objects, or Blobs – Notes from the Field #080
In Notes from the Field #080, Andy recalls his first project loading product images with SSIS and explains how to load binary large objects, or Blobs.
SQL SERVER – PowerShell Script – When Was SQL Server Last Restarted?
A simple PowerShell script that reads the ErrorLog to answer a common question: when was SQL Server last restarted? Tips to improve it are welcome.
SQL SERVER – Identify Page Splits Using Extended Events in SQL Server
How can you track page splits inside SQL Server? PerfMon gives you a count, but here is how to see each of the page splits using Extended Events.
SQL SERVER – Script: Current IO Related Waits on SQL Server
A friend’s SQL Server in an Azure VM slowed down suddenly. Here is my handy script using sys.dm_io_pending_io_requests to see current IO related waits.