Is there any virus associated with SQL Server? A DBA’s question led me to SQL Slammer, the computer worm that slowed down Internet traffic in January 2003.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
PATINDEX and CHARINDEX: Pattern or Literal Search
PATINDEX and CHARINDEX answer different questions. Compare wildcard patterns with literal searches, preserve NULL, and pin collation for digit ranges.
Reading the Warnings in an Execution Plan
Warnings in an execution plan can reveal conversions, missing statistics, and spills; read each warning in workload context.
SQL SERVER – 2005 – Find Database Collation Using T-SQL and SSMS – Part 2
Reader jwwishart shared another way to find database collation in SQL Server 2005: a one line SELECT of collation_name from sys.databases.
SQL SERVER – 2005 – Restore Database Using Corrupt Datafiles (.mdf and .ldf) – Part 2
A last resort for corrupt datafiles with no backup: emergency mode, single user, then DBCC CHECKDB with repair_allow_data_loss. Back up the files first.
SQL SERVER – 2005 – Connection Strings For .NET
SQL Server 2005 connection strings for .NET, ODBC and OLE DB with SQL Native Client: standard security, trusted connection and named instance examples.
SQL SERVER – Change Order of Column In Database Tables
How do you change the order of column in a database table? SQL Server has no direct way, and I explain when column order matters and when it should not.
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.

