christopher.gray (6/18/2014)
About the tip "Never leave the default database set to the master database."...I get where you are coming from; accidentally executing something in master is not fun.
BUT also know this: if your default database is not available (offline, corrupt, restoring, etc), you will not be able to log onto the server. AT ALL.
This includes sysadmins (though the DAC can still be used).
Master will always be there (or if it's not, neither is anything else!).
I am not sure who told you this but I believe I have on a few occasions logged in to the server when the default database I was assigned to was "In Recovery" or offline. When you get the dialogue box for connecting you get another tab where you can specify an alternate database to connect. There is an OPTIONS>> button at bottom where you get additional tabs to specify additional criteria such as the scenario you described.
Best of luck
Tony Trus
Onepax Business Consulting