Langston Montgomery (11/7/2012)
When I add the NOLOCK hint, the query literally joins rows that are not equal, and returns the wrong results.
Something else is going on there. If you specified an equi-join, SQL will not suddenly start joining genuinely unequal rows whether NOLOCK is specified or not.
Is it possible that the join column(s) are being modified? (?)
Otherwise, please walk back thru the actual columns values and verify this. If you find it is continuing, please post the specific data.
I'm assuming that you're joining on exact data types and that you're considered things like upper and lower case, collation, etc..
SQL DBA,SQL Server MVP(07, 08, 09) A socialist is someone who will give you the shirt off *someone else's* back.