Apply query store hints to a vendor query without code changes, verify failures and plan behavior, then clear the hint after the real fix.
SQL SERVER – Difference Between NOLOCK and NOWAIT Hints
Should you use NOLOCK when NOWAIT errors out on a lock? Here is the difference between NOLOCK and NOWAIT, and why neither guarantees a valid answer.
SQL SERVER – Basic Explanation of SET LOCK_TIMEOUT – How to Not Wait on Locked Query
SET LOCK_TIMEOUT works at the connection level, like the NOWAIT hint does for a query. I show how setting it to 0 stops a query from waiting on a lock.
SQL SERVER – Basic Explanation of Query Hint NOWAIT – How to Not Wait on Locked Query
Everybody knows NOLOCK, but not everyone knows NOWAIT. A question at a Bangalore User Group session led me to explain how NOWAIT skips waiting on a lock.
INNER HASH JOIN: Why a Table Join Hint Also Fixes Join Order
A join hint in the FROM clause quietly fixes the join order. I show the warning, three plans side by side, and the softer query-level alternative.
SQL Server Pitfalls: Five Short Lessons With the Fix for Each
SQL Server pitfalls start with a small assumption. This page shows five of them, one for each topic: query hints, errors, permissions, XML and recursive queries. Each lesson shows the mistake first and the tested fix second. Every result comes from SQL Server 2025.
SQL Server Lessons: Five Short Scripts You Can Run in a Minute
SQL Server lessons stick when you can run them in a minute. This page covers errors, security, XML, hierarchies and query hints. Each lesson asks one question and answers it with a short script. Every result comes from SQL Server 2025.