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.
Puzzle – Usage of New Index Hints – ForceSeek and ForceScan
SQL Server Denali adds the FORCESCAN hint next to FORCESEEK. A weekend puzzle on these Index Hints: write a query where each one improves performance.
OPTIMIZE FOR and RECOMPILE Hints Compared
OPTIMIZE FOR and RECOMPILE address parameter-sensitive plans differently; compare stable representative values with per-run compilation cost.