---
title: "MSSQL_ENG014120 | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/04/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: "database-engine"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: replication
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "MSSQL_ENG014120 error"
ms.assetid: 6b169a3b-30da-4981-b998-b52d61811572
author: "MashaMSFT"
ms.author: "mathoma"
monikerRange: "=azuresqldb-mi-current||>=sql-server-2016||=sqlallproducts-allversions"
---
# MSSQL_ENG014120
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdbmi-xxxx-xxx-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdbmi-xxxx-xxx-md.md)]
    
## Message Details  
  
|||  
|-|-|  
|Product Name|SQL Server|  
|Event ID|14120|  
|Event Source|MSSQLSERVER|  
|Component|[!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)]|  
|Symbolic Name||  
|Message Text|Could not drop the distribution database '%s'. This distributor database is associated with a Publisher.|  
  
## Explanation  
 The distribution database stores metadata and history data for all types of replication and transactions for transactional replication. This error occurs if you attempt to drop a distribution database that is associated with one or more Publishers.  
  
## User Action  
 To drop a distribution database you must first drop the association between the Distributor and the Publisher. For more information, see [sp_dropdistpublisher (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-dropdistpublisher-transact-sql.md).  
  
## See Also  
 [Errors and Events Reference (Replication)](../../relational-databases/replication/errors-and-events-reference-replication.md)   
 [Configure Distribution](../../relational-databases/replication/configure-distribution.md)