TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
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Failed to retrieve data for this request. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc)
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&LinkId=20476

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
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The server principal "my_db_user" is not able to access the database "any_other_db_on_the_server" under the current security context. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 916)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=09.00.1399&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=916&LinkId=20476

This is something similar to the image below:

Error Connecting to MS SQL 2005 DB Remotely Management Studio 2008

This error happen to appear while remotely connecting a database on Microsoft SQL server 2005 with any version of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2008, It will not appear if you connect the SQL server 2005 with Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express 2005. And the link that has been specified in the error above is of any no use, also the error started to be reported more for a Windows Shared hosting clients rather than the one with Windows dedicated server. Because the problem only appears to happen if you connect with a user that has access to a particular database and not with the user that has administrator access over the Microsoft SQL server. I had to scratch my head for the solution as it seems to be related more to the permissions on the database user. Now the interesting thing here is that the SQL database that in the error is different than the MSSQL database on which the user has its access on.

After allot of searching on the web I found that this is a bug on all versions of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (Express) 2008 and there is a simple work around to access your database remotely with no errors at all. Here is what that is required:

1) Connect to the MS SQL server with the user credentials in MSSMS (Express) 2008.
2) Bring Object Explorer Details window by selecting View –> Object Explorer Details in menu (or just by hitting F7)
3) In Object Explorer window click at Databases folder
4) In Object Explorer Details Window right-click at the column header and deselect Collation
5) Refresh Databases folder.

Refer to the image below for better understanding:

Fix Failed to retrieve data for this request Error: 916 Management studio

That is it. This will give you the desired access over your database and you will be happily make changes as per your need.
This is just another complicated error by Microsoft which has a very simple fix.

You must enable remote connections for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that you want to connect to from a remote computer. To do this, follow these steps:

1.    Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click MS SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.
2.    On the MS SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration page, click Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.
3.    On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, expand Database Engine, click Remote Connections, click Local and remote connections, click the appropriate protocol to enable for your environment, and then click Apply.

Note Click OK when you receive the following message:
Changes to Connection Settings will not take effect until you restart the Database Engine service.
4.    On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, expand Database Engine, click Service, click Stop, wait until the MSSQLSERVER service stops, and then click Start to restart the MSSQLSERVER service.

Enable the SQL Server Browser service

If you are running MS SQL Server 2005 by using an instance name and you are not using a specific TCP/IP port number in your connection string, you must enable the SQL Server Browser service to allow for remote connections. For example, MS SQL Server 2005 Express is installed with a default instance name of Computer Name\SQLEXPRESS. You are only required to enable the SQL Server Browser service one time, regardless of how many instances of SQL Server 2005 you are running. To enable the MS SQL Server Browser service, follow these steps.

Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to, or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you choose to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

1.    Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.
2.    On the MS SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration page, click Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.
3.    On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, click SQL Server Browser, click Automatic for Startup type, and then click Apply.

Note When you click the Automatic option, the SQL Server Browser service starts automatically every time that you start Microsoft Windows.
4.    Click Start, and then click OK.

Note When you run the MS SQL Server Browser service on a computer, the computer displays the instance names and the connection information for each instance of SQL Server that is running on the computer. This risk can be reduced by not enabling the SQL Server Browser service and by connecting to the instance of SQL Server directly through an assigned TCP port. Connecting directly to an instance of SQL Server through a TCP port is beyond the scope of this article. For more information about the SQL Server Browser server and connecting to an instance of SQL Server, see the following topics in SQL Server Books Online:

•    SQL Server Browser Service
•    Connecting to the SQL Server Database Engine
•    Client Network Configuration

Create exceptions in Windows Firewall

These steps apply to the version of Windows Firewall that is included in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and in Windows Server 2003. If you are using a different firewall system, see your firewall documentation for more information.

If you are running a firewall on the computer that is running SQL Server 2005, external connections to SQL Server 2005 will be blocked unless SQL Server 2005 and the SQL Server Browser service can communicate through the firewall. You must create an exception for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that you want to accept remote connections and an exception for the SQL Server Browser service.

MS SQL Server 2005 uses an instance ID as part of the path when you install its program files. To create an exception for each instance of MS SQL Server, you must identify the correct instance ID. To obtain an instance ID, follow these steps:

1.    Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.
2.    In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click the SQL Server Browser service in the right pane, right-click the instance name in the main window, and then click Properties.
3.    On the SQL Server Browser Properties page, click the Advanced tab, locate the instance ID in the property list, and then click OK.

To open Windows Firewall, click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click OK.

Create an exception for MS SQL Server 2005 in Windows Firewall

To create an exception for MS SQL Server 2005 in Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

1.    In Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Program.
2.    In the Add a Program window, click Browse.
3.    Click the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe executable program, click Open, and then click OK.

Note The path may be different depending on where SQL Server 2005 is installed. MSSQL.1 is a placeholder for the instance ID that you obtained in step 3 of the previous procedure.
4.    Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that needs an exception.

Create an exception for the MS SQL Server Browser service in Windows Firewall

To create an exception for the SQL Server Browser service in Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

1.    In Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Program.
2.    In the Add a Program window, click Browse.
3.    Click the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe executable program, click Open, and then click OK.

Note The path may be different depending on where MS SQL Server 2005 is installed.

1. To open Remote assistance, navigate yourself as shown below.

2. Open Help and Support Center by clicking Start, and then clicking Help and Support. Following window will open up.

Click on => Invite someone to help you (shown inside red outline)

3. There are 3 methods to send out an invitation

i) Microsoft Windows Messenger

ii)Use Email

iii) Save invitation as a file

In this example, I “Save invitation as a File” (using Messenger or Outlook)

4. Enter your name also specify for how long the invitation will stay open , press “Continue”

5. It is Highly recommended to set a password for the connection. Once the password is set, the password should be sent to Expert from Novice system. The password will be used by Expert system to connect to Novice System.

6. Please select the following path for saving your invitation

Send the details of the invitation to Expert (preferably) as an attachment to email.

7. Once the details are send to Expert , he/she needs to browse at the following screen to get connected for Remote Assistance. Make sure both Novice and Expert should be present at there respective computers for the process.

8. Once the Expert receives the invitation , and afterwards whenever both (Expert and Novice) are ready, Expert must double click on the file “RemoteAssistanceInvitation” which will open “Remote Assistance Window” .

9. Enter Password >> hit Yes >> the system will now connect to Novice system

10.  Once the connection is established between Expert and Novice, a confirmation message will be  displayed.

11. Select YES , Expert and Novice are ready to Chat (Chatting will be an option for communicaton while in Remote Assistance )

12. This is what Expert will view at his end (once the connection is established)

All the issues/problems can now be look after as both Novice and Expert are working together.

13. To Terminate a “Remote Assistance” connection, both Expert or Novice can select “Disconnect” in their control section. A pop-up window will display at both ends stating end of connection. Following window will popup on Expert Computer.

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