Error 0x80040E4D stopped a client from saving a maintenance plan, with Login failed for user sa at the end of the message. The sa login was locked out by another maintenance plan that still used an old password. Windows authentication worked in the meantime.
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How to Enforce Password Policy of Windows to SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #142
SQL Server logins follow Windows password rules by default. If a login has it turned off, here is a simple script to Enforce Password Policy again.
SQL SERVER – How to Enable Backup Compression On by Default
Tired of typing WITH COMPRESSION on every backup? Here is how to Enable Backup Compression on by default for the whole SQL Server instance.
Building a Data Dictionary Query From Extended Properties
A plain join quietly hides every column nobody described. See the LEFT JOIN that keeps them, and turn the gaps into a to-do list.
SQL SERVER – What Are Ghost Records and How to Clean Them Up?
Ghost Records are logically deleted index records waiting for physical cleanup. I investigate their context before recommending an intervention.
Querying a Histogram With sys.dm_db_stats_histogram Instead of DBCC
Query sys.dm_db_stats_histogram to inspect statistics steps, compare stored estimates with data, and identify values beyond the last step.
SQL SERVER – Select Unique Data From a Column Exist in Two Different Table
A reader wanted to Select Unique Data from a column in two tables, keeping only values found in just one of them. Here is the query that does it.
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