Fitness is a journey, not a destination. I just earned my CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2) credential, and here is my journey to this milestone.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Ransomware Protection and Recoverable Offline Backups
Ransomware recovery depends on protected backups and controlled access. I test whether those recovery copies survive the loss of normal systems.
SQL SERVER – Why We have Audit Trace in DATA Folder? What are These Files?
The DATA drive filled up with thousands of audittrace .trc files. Here is why SQL Server writes audit trace files there and how to stop them.
What is the Difference Between Physical and Logical Operation in SQL Server Execution Plan? – Interview Question of the Week #122
Question: What is the Difference Between Physical and Logical Operation in SQL Server Execution Plan?
Msg 15153: xp_cmdshell Proxy Account Cannot Be Retrieved
Msg 15153 is the second error a non-sysadmin user hits when running xp_cmdshell. A retail team with about 1,500 databases saw it right after Msg 229. A proxy account plus an EXECUTE grant fixed it.
Visual Studio 2010 Shell Error During SQL Server Patching: Missing Package
A Visual Studio 2010 Shell error interrupted a SQL Server patch in a 2017 case. The setup screen named the component, but the component log named the missing package. This post shows how to read the logs, decode the Windows Installer error and match the package before any repair.
Xpstar.dll Could Not Load in SQL Server: Error 17750 and Reason 126
An xpstar.dll loading error can name a DLL that is already present, because error 17750 with reason 126 usually points at a dependency. This post reads both parts of the error, checks the file, the VC++ runtimes and the loaded modules with tested commands, and explains why copying DLLs between machines is not a repair.
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.