SQL 2000 - BUILTIN\Administrators Account

  • Following an issue I had last night not being able to log into SQL 2000, I'm wondering if anyone can clarify.

    I disabled the BUILTIN\Administrators account and set Authentication to Windows only. I have a dedicated AD Group that is a SysAdmin in SQL Server itself of which I am a member. When I tried to connect I couldn't. When I re-enabled the BUILTIN\Administrators account I could then get in?

  • Hello,

    By "disable" do you mean you denied access for the BUILTIN\Administrators login?

    If you are also a member of BUILTIN\Administrators then the deny would override the grant associated with your AD Group membership - hence no access.

    To quote BOL: "Users cannot connect to an instance of SQL Server if their user account, or any group in which they are a member, has been denied login access"

    Regards,

    John Marsh

    www.sql.lu
    SQL Server Luxembourg User Group

  • That's a good point. How can I see if i am a member of BUILTIN\Administrators?

  • Hello Steve,

    If you are a member of the local Administrators group on the Windows Server, then you are in it.

    Regards,

    John Marsh

    www.sql.lu
    SQL Server Luxembourg User Group

  • Thanks John. Problem sorted and understood.

  • Just a thought - has this changed in SQL 2005 - I'm sure I've done the same thing there without adverse effects?

  • Hello Steve,

    In SQL 2005, as well as the Grant/Deny option you also have the Enable/Disable option, which is probably what you did?

    Having the BUILTIN\Administrators Login set as disabled won’t override a Grant on another "Group" Login of which you are a member.

    Regards,

    John

    www.sql.lu
    SQL Server Luxembourg User Group

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