Error 5808

Severity Level 16

Message Text

Ad hoc updates to system catalogs not recommended. Use the RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE statement to force this configuration.

Explanation

This error message occurs in one of these two situations:

• When a user tries to use the sp_configure system stored procedure with the allow updates option
• When a user tries to set a configuration parameter to a value that Microsoft® SQL Server™ recognizes as likely to interfere with performance or smooth operation

When the allow updates option is enabled, SQL Server allows direct updates to the system tables, so any user who can log on as the SQL Server system administrator can update the system tables directly with ad-hoc queries and can create stored procedures that update the system catalog. Incorrect changes to the system tables can cause unrecoverable database corruption or data loss.

Warning Severe problems can result from the direct manipulation of the system catalogs. Do not modify the system catalogs unless instructed to do so by your primary support provider.

Action

Before modifying any system catalogs, be sure that you have a valid backup of the database. For more information about backup operations, see Backing Up and Restoring Databases.

Warning Incorrect modification of the system catalogs can result in database corruption or data loss.

If possible, restart SQL Server in single-user mode by using the -m flag of the sqlservr application so that inadvertent modifications do not occur. For more information, see sqlservr Application.

To modify system catalogs, use the osql utility to alter the allow updates system configuration setting.

Note Only the system administrator can alter the value for the allow updates system configuration setting.

See Also