Question

Login failed for user 'domain\user'. Microsoft SQL Server Error 18456

Asked by: TrialWorks

This is an unfortunate case of an over-documented problem.  The issue I am having is likely not a typical login problem to SQL.  

Here are some basic facts:
* SQL 2008 Standard on WIndows 2008 Standard
* Windows Authentication only
* Domain Administrator account worked 2 days ago
* Last thing done was: Created a publication and pushed a subscription
* Left it syncing snapshot, came back 2 days later, hit the error.

Problems that I've ran into before solved easily include:
* Default database is detached/offline/damaged
* User group is removed
--- in both circumstances you can do OSQL commands and use "sp_defaultdb" to change the default db on the account to "master"  and generally work around it.

sp_defaultdb is not working for me, and obviously I cannot open management studio to get in.  I am 95% sure the default db was "master" to begin with, but i could have set it to something else.   I do not think the db is corrupt or damaged, no server issues outside of this. No known security changes have been implemented.

Sort of out of ideas, I i have no SQL authentication to fall back on (unless there is a way to turn it on from my state).  None of my domain admin accounts can modify security rights. I get the same message in OSQL when i try to execute any stored procedure.  

Thanks.

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Asked On
2009-09-24 at 11:39:33ID24759546
Topics

SQL Server 2008

,

MS SQL Server

,

SQL Server 2005

Participating Experts
1
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: vinurajrPosted on 2009-09-24 at 22:22:02ID: 25420191

Please Have a Look http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2006/02/21/536201.aspx
                                http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889646
                                http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925744

 

by: TrialWorksPosted on 2009-09-28 at 12:27:20ID: 25442438

Nope.   It was much simpler than that.  We were being remoted into that server once the server admin was already logged in. Same server admin helped us install the SQL instnace.  Even though, sql was installed under an "administrator" account, you all probably know there are two: local and domain.  Well, the server admin was not logging into the same one this time as they did during the install.  We noticed it when I finally had them connect us to a client PC and then rdp to server.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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