How to Change SQL Server Collation After Installation
If you need to change the collation of your SQL Server after installation, you can do so by using the commands below. However, please be aware that this operation can be risky and might impact your environment. It is highly recommended to test these commands in a separate, non-production environment before applying them to your live servers.
Changing Server Collation
To change the server collation, you can start SQL Server in single-user mode with specific trace flags enabled and specify the new collation. Here is an example command:
sqlservr -m -T4022 -T3659 -s"SQL2017" -q"SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AI"
Explanation of the parameters:
-m: Starts SQL Server in single-user admin mode.-T: Enables trace flags at startup.-s: Specifies the SQL Server instance name.-q: Defines the new collation to be applied.
In this example, two trace flags are used:
- 4022: Bypasses startup procedures in SQL Server.
- 3659: Enables logging of all errors to the error log during server startup.
Important: Changing server collation affects all system and user databases and can lead to issues if not performed correctly. Always ensure you have a full backup and test thoroughly in a controlled environment.
