Can't create Windows Login's on a case sensitive SQL Server 2005 Instance - MSG 15401

Question

I need to create 3 logins on a SQL Server 2005 instance:

• DOMAIN\aaa
• DOMAIN\bbb
• DOMAIN\ccc

However two of them (aaa and bbb) fail with the following error:

Msg 15401, Level 16, State 1, Line 5 Windows NT user or group 'DOMAIN\aaa' not found. Check the name again.

When I try to add them with DOMAIN\AAA and DOMAIN\BBB it works.

What is causing this strange case sensitive behaviour? And how can I add all accounts lower case?

I found a KB article from Microsoft for the 15401 error, but nothing in there explains this behaviour.

• StanleyJohns: I had the same issue once. I think I was able to change the collation at the DB level and this fixed the problem. Let me check the server again, and I will let you know.

Answer 1

You chose a case sensitive collation when installing SQL Server

You will have "CS" in this result:

 SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('Collation')

You either live with it or rebuild the master database

• nojetlag: Well since it's a commercial product, this is not my choice and I can't go and change the collaction. I try to understand where this behaviour comes from and especially why some login's seem to be different from others.