Find duplicate statistics on index-leading columns, compare freshness and sampling, and generate cautious DROP STATISTICS candidates.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Scrollbar in the Middle – Bugs Fixed by SSMS Team
SSMS 18.5 fixed the Database Properties scrollbar that opened in the middle. Read the funny true story, see the original evidence, and enjoy the fix.
Free Edition Product Key: Developer, Express and Evaluation
A free edition product key tells SQL Server setup which free edition to install: Evaluation, Developer or Express. This post lists the three codes, shows how to pass one to an unattended install and how to check the edition afterwards. It also explains when an Evaluation instance ends.
Remove Extra Log File in SQL Server: Fix Error 5042
To remove extra log file members, SQL Server needs the files to hold no active log. When one does, ALTER DATABASE REMOVE FILE fails with Msg 5042. This post builds a database with two log files, reproduces the error, shows which VLFs keep the file busy and frees it with log backups. It also explains why the file stays offline until the next log backup.
How to Solve Error When Transaction Log Gets Full? – Interview Question of the Week #272
Question: How to Solve Error When Transaction Log Gets Full?
Answer: This was a question I was asked in the recent Health Check.
SQL SERVER – Multiple Log Files to Your Databases – Not Needed
I was asked a very interesting question by their DBA about log files. The question was – Is there ever need of multiple log files in SQL Server?
Survey Answers: A Table Design for Questions and Responses
Store survey answers as typed rows instead of one column per question. Then break the design on purpose to see what it blocks and what it cannot.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

