I follow what Chris H does, though two things:

1. I would restore with NORECOVERY always (or STANDBY) in case I might need some tail log or other diff/log backup.
2. I...

This is strange.

Couple things. Can you add a new user? If so, can they go into the db_owner role?

After that, can you look at sys.database_principals in the db and compare...

That's an appropriate song. Ugh, people are horrible sometimes.

That's excellent. Glad it's working. If you'd like, I'd actually love a short article on this. Maybe show how it works, with a side note about the things that didn't...

I get some amazingly creative ones from HR services, though luckily none have hit the right one we use at Redgate. I also get a few great ones that purport...

I'd like to go back to the Fringe Festival next year, so maybe this will lower the crowds 😉

I have seen a few more reports of strange bugs lately with MS than  I'd expected. In this case, I might look at a CSS case with them. I'm not...

Thanks, https coudl be an issue. I'll to see if I Can get an API key and get this to work. Someone else was asking about this recently.

As a side...

In small companies, plenty of people have privileged accounts. In large companies, this often happens when various groups/departments set up their own servers. I've found more than a few engineers...

There's clearly a memory shortage somewhere. There are lots of memory clerks in the SQL OS, so I was thinking to reduce this to be sure the max memory is...

Disclosure: I work for Redgate Software

At Redgate, we have various automation tools to help deploy database changes automatically. Other vendors to as well. There are also ways with MIcrosoft using...

Thanks for the update, and I agree. Sounds like networking. Be interested in the solution if you find it.

Never used it in Britain, but I did use a EuroRail pass thirty years ago to travel around the continent. I wonder how many will stop going now altogether. I...

Not necessary, but I'd argue it's a good practice and habit to get into. It clearly sets out the transaction, which can be lost in code, and it allows you...

Smoke Tests - http://softwaretestingfundamentals.com/smoke-testing/

The idea is that you decide what things need to be working for your application to be stable. This might be

• The service is running
• Any...