Mysql – Need to stop SQL Server when using Disk Defragmenter

One option is to "proof" your code against collation mismatch.

You can use the special collation "DATABASE_DEFAULT" to coerce without knowing what the actual collation is. You use it on char type columns in temp tables, table variables and system tables you need to use.

Example:

CREATE TABLE #Currency (CCY CHAR(3))
GO
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('GBP')
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('CHF')
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('EUR')
GO
SELECT Something
FROM myTable M JOIN #Currency C ON M.CCY = C.CCY --error!
GO
-- in join too
SELECT Something
FROM myTable M JOIN #Currency C ON M.CCY = C.CCY COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT --no error
GO
DROP TABLE #Currency
GO


CREATE TABLE  #Currency (CCY CHAR(3) COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT)
GO
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('GBP')
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('CHF')
INSERT #Currency VALUES ('EUR')
GO
SELECT Something
FROM myTable M JOIN #Currency C ON M.CCY = C.CCY --no error!
GO

DROP TABLE #Currency
GO

This also means that when your clients migrate their DB onto a new whizzy SQL Server box with yet another different collation, it works too...

Any SQL License that isn't a retail pack is pre-pidded so that isn't a worry. Sounds to me like he's charging you for software and isn't actually purchasing a license from Microsoft. If you have in fact purchased a SQL Server license then you are entitled to a sealed copy of the software, not a burned copy (which I'm pretty sure at this point is what he'd offer to give you).

There is no license restriction in place that Microsoft would require that a vendor change the sa password and say that the instance can only be used for their software. The license to run SQL Server belongs to you, you can run anything you like on it. The vendor may request that you only run their software on that server, in fact they may require that you only run their software on the server through their support agreement, but that is between you and the vendor and has nothing to do with Microsoft.

As for your MSDN license, Microsoft doesn't really care what key is installed, they care about what licenses you have purchased. If you are running on an MSDN license that is fine, provided that you have a legit purchased license sitting in a drawer (or email folder) that is assigned to be for that computer. Just make sure that the instance that you installed was a Standard Edition instance not a Developer Edition instance from MSDN. Also note that SQL 2008 and SQL 2008 R2 are licensed differently so you'll need to make sure you have the correct one installed. If when you connect in object explorer is says 10.0 that's SQL 2008 if it says 10.50 that's SQL 2008 R2.

Inform him that you want the physical copy of SQL Server 2008 that you are entitled to based on the fact that you have purchased a copy of the software. If he keeps giving you the BS about his license requires that he installs it, etc. tell him that you'll be contacting the BSA (Business Software Alliance) and reporting him for software piracy (which is exactly what he is doing if he is charging you for a license and not actually providing one). The BSA will be more than happy to hunt him down, skin him and take all his money (you'll get a cut as a finders fee). The BSA is basically the software license cops.