Cannot access default instance set up by previous owner of computer

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Cannot access default instance set up by previous owner of computer

grantbanjo

Ten Centuries

Points: 1196
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February 24, 2014 at 4:30 pm

#283998

Hello,
I first ran a search for on the Internet and then on SQL Server Central for this situation, but was unable to find a close match.
I have SQL Server 2008 R2 running on a 64-bit computer using Windows 2008 R2. The previous owner of the computer (who is no longer with the company) set up a default instance <computer name>/SQLEXPRESS under his Windows Authentication. There are no other instances running on this computer, but I am connected to instances on other servers.
What is the best approach for accessing a default instance on this computer? Should I try to hack into this instance via the sa password (http://v-consult.be/2011/05/26/recover-sa-password-microsoft-sql-server-2008-r2/) or remove the default instance and install a new one? I do not think the current default instance contains anything of value. If the default instance needs to be replaced, please provide a link or description with the required steps.
Thanks in advance.

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free_mascot One Orange Chip Points: 27169 More actions · Answer 1

Are you able to connect to the server and database? What access you do have on server and database?

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Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 234013 More actions · Answer 2

grantbanjo (2/24/2014)
Hello,
I first ran a search for on the Internet and then on SQL Server Central for this situation, but was unable to find a close match.
I have SQL Server 2008 R2 running on a 64-bit computer using Windows 2008 R2. The previous owner of the computer (who is no longer with the company) set up a default instance <computer name>/SQLEXPRESS under his Windows Authentication. There are no other instances running on this computer, but I am connected to instances on other servers.
What is the best approach for accessing a default instance on this computer? Should I try to hack into this instance via the sa password (http://v-consult.be/2011/05/26/recover-sa-password-microsoft-sql-server-2008-r2/) or remove the default instance and install a new one? I do not think the current default instance contains anything of value. If the default instance needs to be replaced, please provide a link or description with the required steps.
Thanks in advance.

Firstly it's not a default instance it's a named instance. The security permissions for this installation obviously don't grant you any connectivity.

If you don't need the instance or its databases you could uninstall it. If you want to gain access you'll need to start the instance in single user mode and grant yourself access.

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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

grantbanjo Ten Centuries Points: 1196 More actions · Answer 3

My personal desktop computer at work is running Windows 2008 as the OS. When I open SQL Server Management Studio and select Connect > Database Engine, I can connect to other servers and then view their associated databases under Object Explorer.

But when I go to Connect > Database Engine under Object Explorer and apply the only instance available for server name for my local desktop computer, I get the message stating "... the server was not found or was not accessible." I have also tried "Local" and "Localhost" with the same error returned.

My best guess is that it will be easier to reinstall and set up a mixed mode authentication or apply Windows Authentication and grant access to my manager and a couple of others on my team... just in case.

Thanks.

Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 234013 More actions · Answer 4

In the connect dialog the instance name should be

Computername\SQLEXPRESS

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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

Lowell SSC Guru Points: 323518 More actions · Answer 5

for non clustered instances, these two techniques are working great for me, as long as i have RDP to the machine:

without stopping and starting the services, byusing sysinternals psexec to impersonate NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM and gain access:

http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2011/07/10/think-your-windows-administrators-don-t-have-access-to-sql-server-2008-by-default-think-again.aspx

using a script prrovided by microsoft, as long as bouncing the services is no problem:

http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/Project/Download/FileDownload.aspx?ProjectName=addselftosqlsysadmin&DownloadId=9198

i've used both, and not had any issues unless the instance was clustered.

Lowell

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