Delete duplicate records from a SQL table without a primary key

Add a Primary Key (code below)

Run the correct delete (code below)

Consider WHY you woudln't want to keep that primary key.

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Assuming MSSQL or compatible:

ALTER TABLE Employee ADD EmployeeID int identity(1,1) PRIMARY KEY;

WHILE EXISTS (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Employee GROUP BY EmpID, EmpSSN HAVING COUNT(*) > 1)
BEGIN
    DELETE FROM Employee WHERE EmployeeID IN 
    (
        SELECT MIN(EmployeeID) as [DeleteID]
        FROM Employee
        GROUP BY EmpID, EmpSSN
        HAVING COUNT(*) > 1
    )
END

It is very simple. I tried in SQL Server 2008

DELETE SUB FROM
(SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY EmpId, EmpName, EmpSSN ORDER BY EmpId) cnt
 FROM Employee) SUB
WHERE SUB.cnt > 1

Use the row number to differentiate between duplicate records. Keep the first row number for an EmpID/EmpSSN and delete the rest:

    DELETE FROM Employee a
     WHERE ROW_NUMBER() <> ( SELECT MIN( ROW_NUMBER() )
                               FROM Employee b
                              WHERE a.EmpID  = b.EmpID
                                AND a.EmpSSN = b.EmpSSN )

With duplicates

As
(Select *, ROW_NUMBER() Over (PARTITION by EmpID,EmpSSN Order by EmpID,EmpSSN) as Duplicate From Employee)

delete From duplicates

Where Duplicate > 1 ;

This will update Table and remove all duplicates from the Table!