A client lost the log drive and tried ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG, only to get a file activation failure: the log cannot be rebuilt. Here is why and what they could do.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Creating Clustered ColumnStore with InMemory OLTP Tables – Operational Analytics
SQL Server 2016 lets you add a Clustered ColumnStore index to InMemory OLTP tables for operational analytics. A teaser of my SQLPASS session, with an example.
Building Full Folder Paths From a Parent-Child Table
Your folder table stores only a name and a parent, so the full path has to be walked. I show the query, and how to catch the rows it quietly leaves out.
10th Anniversary of SQL Authority – Thank YOU!
Ten years ago today I started this blog. On the 10th Anniversary of SQLAuthority.com, I answer the five questions readers ask me most, starting with the name.
SQL SERVER – Unable to Bring SQL Online – DoSQLDataRootApplyACL : Failed to Create Directory Tree at SQLDataRoot
Unable to bring SQL Online on a cluster node? The cluster log showed DoSQLDataRootApplyACL failed to create directory tree at SQLDataRoot. Here is the fix.
SQL SERVER – Unable to Recycle ERRORLOG Using sp_cycle_errorlog
A reader could not recycle ERRORLOG files with sp_cycle_errorlog. The ERRORLOG itself showed the reason. Here is what went wrong and how to fix it.
Performance Comparison EXCEPT vs NOT IN – Interview Question of the Week #095
EXCEPT vs NOT IN: which is faster? An attendee at PASS Summit asked me, and my simple example shows they work the same way and perform the same.
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.

