Changing the Server Collation

Changing the default collation for an instance of SQL Server can be a complex operation and involves the following steps:

• Make sure you have all the information or scripts needed to re-create your user databases and all the objects in them.
• Export all your data using a tool such as the bcp Utility. For more information, see Importing and Exporting Bulk Data.
• Drop all the user databases.
• Rebuild the master database specifying the new collation in the SQLCOLLATION property of the setupcommand.For example:

  Setup /QUIET /ACTION=REBUILDDATABASE /INSTANCENAME=InstanceName
  /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS=accounts /[ SAPWD= StrongPassword ]
  /SQLCOLLATION=CollationName

   

  For more information, see Rebuilding System Databases.

• Create all the databases and all the objects in them.
• Import all your data.