Forum Discussion
Cannot create a user. Cannot enable default "sa" account, all due to permissions
I have an existing database that was installed alongside a piece of software. I need to make a Windows account a "sysadmin" in SSMS via Security > Logins. I've tried creating a new login, but "User does not have permission to perform this action." The *only* user that has current sysadmin rights is the disabled default "sa" account, which I also do not have permission to alter. I'm running SSMS as an administrator (Windows administrator, not SQL administrator, which is the problem, apparently).
How do I fix this?
SQL 2014 Express, btw. That's what came with the software installation
I'm running SSMS as an administrator (Windows administrator, not SQL administrator, which is the problem, apparently).
Andrew_M250 , that's not enough, you have to start SQL Server engine in "single user mode", see
Connect to SQL Server when system administrators are locked out - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn
for a step-by-step guide.
I'm running SSMS as an administrator (Windows administrator, not SQL administrator, which is the problem, apparently).
Andrew_M250 , that's not enough, you have to start SQL Server engine in "single user mode", see
Connect to SQL Server when system administrators are locked out - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn
for a step-by-step guide.
