SQL Server: Change Default Backup Path in SQL 2008

In the SQL Server 2008 setup you can now set the default backup location but in case you set it wrong or need to change it at later time the SSMS interface does not provide you with any options to do that. You can do the same thing as in 2005 ...

Go to following key in Registry and put the new path in ...

First we need to determine the instance Name; go to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL\]

Note down the value for the default instance usually MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER (note they changed the naming convention of instance names from MSSQL.Instance# to MSSQL10.InstanceID which you enter in at install time).

Now go to ...
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQLServer\]

And change the value for BackupDirectory to the new value.

Now if you modify a Maintenance Plan it will grab the new value. You don't need to restart server or services.

Slipstream SP1 into a SQL Server 2008 installation

From the Microsoft KB article #955392

Follow the following steps to create a slipstream drop that you can use for installing the original media and a service pack at the same time.

1. Install the following prerequisites for SQL Server 2008.
* .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 for SQL Server 2008 Express Edition
You can obtain the .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 from the following Web site in Microsoft Download Center:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b2c0358-915b-4eb5-9b1d-10e506da9d0f&displaylang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b2c0358-915b-4eb5-9b1d-10e506da9d0f&displaylang=en)
* .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 for other editions
To download and install the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=120550 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=120550)
* Windows Installer 4.5
To download and install Windows Installer 4.5, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=49112 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=49112)
2. Download the service pack package that matches you system architecture. For example download the x64 package of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 if your system is an x64-based system.
3. Extract the service pack by running the following command:
SQLServer2008SP1-KB968369-x64-ENU.exe /x:C:\SP1
4. Run the service pack to install Setup files on the computer. You will receive a Setup Support Files dialog box if the Setup support files have not been installed. You can also run the following file to install the setup support files:
C:\SP1\x64\setup\1033\sqlsupport.msi
5. Run the Setup.exe file from the SQL Server 2008 source media by specifying the /PCUSource parameter. For example:
Setup.exe /PCUSource=C:\SP1

How to Enable/Disable the Hidden Administrator Account in Windows 7/Vista

To enable the hidden Administrator account in Windows 7/Vista, open up an elevated command prompt (right-click on the Command Prompt icon, select Run as Administrator), and type in this command and hit Enter:

net user administrator /active:yes

To disable this account, you would use this command:

net user administrator /active:no