Cannot delete user 'SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser' during Configuration Wizard

2/27/2026 9:56 PM

2/27/2026 9:56 PM

This issue is caused by an existing SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser entry in the SolarWinds database that the wizard cannot remove or update automatically. The issue can be resolved by connecting to SQL Server with SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser and then using a new SQL user for the SolarWinds databases during Configuration Wizard.

Affected Components

• Product: SolarWinds Platform (Orion)

• Component: Configuration Wizard – Database

• Scope: Primary Polling Engine / Additional Polling Engine using an existing SolarWinds database

From Configuration Wizard > Database:

• Error:

  Database configuration failed:
  • Cannot delete user 'SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser'. Please delete the user manually and rerun Configuration Wizard.
  

• The wizard stops on the database configuration step and does not complete.

Based from ConfigurationWizard log

2026-02-25 10:26:28,690 [3] WARN SqlUserAccountProcessor - User "SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser" already exists in database, but is not bound to database login. Dropping user to create one with binding to db login.
2026-02-25 10:26:28,695 [3] ERROR SqlUserAccountProcessor - System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException (0x80131904): The database principal owns a database role and cannot be dropped.

Network Performance Monitor

The SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser database user already exists in the SolarWinds database with permissions/ownership that prevent Configuration Wizard from dropping or reconfiguring it. When Configuration Wizard tries to manage this user (drop/recreate/update permissions), SQL Server blocks the operation, resulting in:

• “Cannot delete user 'SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser'”

• Database configuration failure.

Recommended approach – Use SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser to connect to SQL Server, then a new SQL user for the SolarWinds databases

Follow the sequence below (this is the working pattern from the resolved case):

1. Run Configuration Wizard as Administrator on the SolarWinds server.

2. Database step – SQL Server connection

   • On the SQL Server connection page:

     • Use the existing SQL login SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser to connect to the SQL Server instance.

     • Verify the connection succeeds.

3. Database step – SolarWinds database account

   • On the page where you configure the SolarWinds database account:

     • Select Create new SQL user (or equivalent option in your CW version).

     • Specify a new SQL login that will be used by SolarWinds to connect to the SolarWinds databases, for example:

       • SolarWinds_DBUser_New

     • Let Configuration Wizard create and assign this new user for the SolarWinds databases.

4. Complete Configuration Wizard

   • Continue through the remaining steps and let Configuration Wizard:

     • Adjust database objects.

     • Apply updates.

   • The wizard should now complete without the “Cannot delete user 'SolarWindsOrionDatabaseUser'” error.