Change default Server Collation - 2005

I have an instance where the default collation is set to Latin1_General_CI_AS, but the user databases are set to SQL_Latin1_General_CPI_CI_AS.

I need to change the default/server collation to SQL_Latin1_General_CPI_CI_AS as well (i.e. same as the user databases) - what's the best way to do this?

asked Dec 17 '09 at 10:14 AM in Default

Paul S
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2 answers:

To change the server default you need to rebuild the master db (gulp). If you feel brave enough then here are the steps (from BOL):

Changing the default collation for an instance of SQL Server can be a complex operation and involves the following steps:

Make sure you have all the information or scripts needed to re-create your user databases and all the objects in them.

Export all your data using a tool such as bulk copy.

Drop all the user databases.

Rebuild the master database specifying the new collation in the SQLCOLLATION property of the setup command. For example:

setup.exe /q /ACTION=RebuildDatabase /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /SAPWD="sa-pwd" /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="BUILTIN\ADMINISTRATORS" /SqlCollation=SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AI

Create all the databases and all the objects in them.

Import all your data.

Then followed by this, which may be less painful....

Note:
Instead of changing the default collation of an instance of SQL Server, you can specify a default collation for each new database you create.

answered Dec 17 '09 at 10:24 AM