Assigning an sa Password
New Information - SQL Server 2000 SP3.
Security Note The sa login is a SQL Server login that is a member of the sysadmin fixed server role. It cannot be deleted.
When you install Microsoft® SQL Server™ and select Mixed Mode Authentication, which enables both Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication, assign an sa password. Members of the sysadmin fixed server role can later change the password.
Security Note Do not use a blank password. Use a strong password. For more information, see Security Rules.
If you select Windows Authentication, you cannot assign an sa password during installation. However, after installation, you should assign an sa password. This ensures that if the authentication mode is later changed to Mixed Mode, the sa login has a password.
When possible, use Windows Authentication.
If you must use SQL Server Authentication, use sa as your login identification with the password assigned during installation the first time you log in to an instance of SQL Server. If you cannot provide the correct sa password, you must reinstall SQL Server.
Note Before the sa password can be changed, the server must be registered in SQL Server Enterprise Manager.
To assign the sa password on a newly installed server
Transact-SQL