SQL Server Performance

SQLServerCentral Article

How to Safely Remove a SQL Server Data File Without Downtime

  • Article

Learn how to safely remove a SQL Server .ndf data file without any downtime using DBCC SHRINKFILE (EMPTYFILE). This hands-on tutorial walks through real-world Azure-based setup, data redistribution, and storage cleanup — ideal for DBAs managing enterprise SQL Server environments.

(3)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-05-16

2,730 reads

Blogs

Git forked

By

Forgive me for the title. Mentally I’m 12. When I started my current day...

Setting FK Constraints in Data Modeler

By

One of the things a customer asked recently about Redgate Data Modeler was how...

Webinar: Navigating the Database Landscape in 2026

By

For a number of years, we’ve produced the State of the Database Landscape report,...

Read the latest Blogs

Forums

SSMS 22 Latest Update Crashing

By Phil Parkin

Hi all, I've just had to roll back my SSMS 22 version from 22.3.0,...

Transactional Replication setup issue

By DrAzure

Hi! I've been banging my head against the wall for 2 days now trying...

The Power of Data and Privacy

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Power of Data and...

Visit the forum

Question of the Day

What's the Date?

In SQL Server 2025, there is a new function that returns the current date without the time. What is it?

See possible answers