Clarify sqlcmd EOF troubleshooting and prefer bundled client in quickstart docs

docs/getting-started.md

@@ -105,18 +105,19 @@ volumes:
 
 ### Step 3: connect and run your first query
 
-You do not need to install anything: the container bundles sqlcmd, so this works for everyone. The `-C` flag trusts the container's self-signed certificate:
+You do not need to install anything: the container bundles sqlcmd, so this works for everyone. Start with the bundled client and a short login timeout. If you started the container only seconds ago and see a transient startup failure such as `EOF`, wait a few seconds and rerun the same command. The `-C` flag trusts the container's self-signed certificate.
 
 ```bash
 docker exec sqldb /opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd \
-    -S localhost -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -Q "SELECT @@VERSION;"
+    -S localhost -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 -Q "SELECT @@VERSION;"
 ```
 
 You should see `Microsoft SQL Azure`, confirming you are on the Azure SQL Database engine.
 
 **Other ways to query:**
 
-- **Already have [sqlcmd](https://learn.microsoft.com/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility) on the host?** Connect directly: `sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -Q "SELECT @@VERSION;"`.
+- **Already have [sqlcmd](https://learn.microsoft.com/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility) on the host?** First wait for the in-container command above to succeed, then connect directly: `sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 -Q "SELECT @@VERSION;"`.
+  In PowerShell, retype the password quotes as plain ASCII `"` characters and do not include a leading space inside the password string. A pasted smart quote or extra space can cause an immediate `EOF`.
 - **Ask your AI agent, no T-SQL required.** With the [container skill](prerequisites.md#agent-skill) installed, ask in plain English, for example: *"Connect to my local Azure SQL Database and show the version and edition."* It already knows the connection details and runs the query for you.
 - **Use the VS Code MSSQL extension with GitHub Copilot.** Its [GitHub Copilot integration](https://aka.ms/vscode-mssql-copilot-docs) works against the container today, for example writing SQL from natural language or opening the schema designer. Connect with server `localhost,1433`, SQL Login, user `sa`, your password, and **Trust server certificate: Yes**. The extension's graphical UI is not yet fully compatible with the container, so some UI features may error; see [known limitations](known-limitations.md).
 

docs/index.html

@@ -190,11 +190,11 @@ <h3>Start the container</h3>
         <span class="qstep-num">3</span>
         <div class="qstep-body">
           <h3>Connect and query</h3>
-          <p class="qstep-desc">Open a session with <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility" rel="noopener">sqlcmd</a> and run your first query.</p>
+          <p class="qstep-desc">Use the bundled <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility" rel="noopener">sqlcmd</a> and run your first query. If the container just started, wait a few seconds and retry.</p>
           <div class="qstep-cmd">
-            <code><span class="cmd-p">$</span> sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -C -h-1 \
+            <code><span class="cmd-p">$</span> docker exec sqldb /opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 \
     -Q "SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT @@VERSION AS Version;"</code>
-            <button class="copy-btn" type="button" data-copy-text="sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -C -h-1 \&#10;    -Q &quot;SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT @@VERSION AS Version;&quot;"><span class="copy-label">Copy</span></button>
+            <button class="copy-btn" type="button" data-copy-text="docker exec sqldb /opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P &quot;YourStr0ng_Passw0rd&quot; -C -b -l 2 \&#10;    -Q &quot;SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT @@VERSION AS Version;&quot;"><span class="copy-label">Copy</span></button>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>

skills/azuresql-db-container/references/connect-and-query.md

@@ -29,14 +29,17 @@ docker exec sqldb /opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P "YourStr0n
 ## sqlcmd from the host
 
 Use the host port chosen by the free-port loop (here shown as `1433`). The
-comma form `localhost,PORT` selects the port.
+comma form `localhost,PORT` selects the port. If the container just started,
+wait for the in-container command above to succeed before using the host client.
 
 ```bash
-sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b \
+sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 \
   -d appdb -Q "SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') AS Edition;"
 ```
 
-Expect `SQL Azure`.
+Expect `SQL Azure`. In PowerShell, retype the password quotes as plain ASCII `"`
+characters and make sure there is no leading space inside the password string.
+A pasted smart quote or extra space can cause an immediate `EOF`.
 
 ## Standard connection string
 

skills/azuresql-db-container/references/troubleshooting.md

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Common failures and their fixes. Symptoms first.
 - Msg 40508 on USE
 - Cannot open database / database does not exist
 - Connecting too early (Msg 913 and friends)
+- EOF from host sqlcmd
 - Wrong image (EngineEdition is not 5)
 
 ## Container won't start / exits immediately
@@ -87,6 +88,28 @@ Errors right after `docker run` usually mean the engine is still initializing.
 Use the readiness retry loop with `-b -l 2` so transient errors are retried
 rather than masked. See `wait-until-ready.md`.
 
+## EOF from host sqlcmd
+
+An immediate `EOF` from host `sqlcmd` usually means either the engine is still
+starting or the shell changed the `-P` password argument while pasting it.
+
+First verify the container with the bundled client:
+
+```bash
+docker exec sqldb /opt/mssql-tools18/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 \
+  -Q "SELECT 1;"
+```
+
+If that succeeds, retry from the host with the same short timeout:
+
+```bash
+sqlcmd -S localhost,1433 -U sa -P "YourStr0ng_Passw0rd" -C -b -l 2 -Q "SELECT 1;"
+```
+
+In PowerShell, retype the password quotes as plain ASCII `"` characters and
+make sure there is no leading space inside the password string. A pasted smart
+quote or a leading space inside the password string can trigger `EOF`.
+
 ## Wrong image (EngineEdition is not 5)
 
 If `SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('EngineEdition')` does not return `5`, or