How to change SQL Server collation How could I change the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Default Collation for the whole server and a particular database?

Is there a way to do it using visual interface of SQL Server Management Studio? In the Server Properties window (and in the corresponding Database Properties window), this property is not available for editing.
Yes.
You can change the default collation of SQL Server 2008 R2 express instance and individual databases, but it is a complex task.
Sadly, there is no visual option to do it via SSMS.

SQL Server 2008 supports setting collations at the following levels:

Server

Database

Column

Expression


The default installation settings are
determined by the Windows system
locale. The server-level collation can
either be changed during setup, or by
changing the Windows system locale
before installation. more...

Setting and Changing the Server Collation - SQL Server 2008

Make sure you have all the information or scripts needed to re-create your user databases and all the objects in them.

Export all your data using a tool such as the bcp Utility. For more information, see Importing and Exporting Bulk Data.

Drop all the user databases.

Rebuild the master database specifying the new collation in the SQLCOLLATION property of the setup command

Create all the databases and all the objects in them.

Import all your data.


Setting and Changing the Database Collation - SQL Server 2008

Set the COLLATION option in the CREATE DATABASE statement while creating a new database.

Similarly, set the COLLATION options in the ALTER DATABASE statement to change the collation of an existing database.
ALTER DATABASE [database_name] COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS;


Setting and Changing the Column Collation

Some of the column collations will remain the same even after you alter the database collation. In that case, you have to modify the collation of the individual columns.