Most Efficient Way to... Unique Random String

Question

I need to efficently insert a 5 character RANDOM string into a database while also ensuring that it is UNIQUE. Generating the random string is not the problem, but currently what I am doing is generating the string and then checking the DB if it exists already... if it does, I start over.

Is there a more efficient way to do this process?

Please note, I do NOT want to use GUID or anything else that is more than 5 Characters.... I MUST stick to 5 Characters.

PS: I don't think it makes a difference, but my strings are all case sensitive.

Here is the "Random String" portion

    Public Function GetRandomNumbers(ByVal numChars As Integer) As String
    Dim chars As String() = { _
     "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", _
     "G", "H", "I", "J", "K", "L", _
     "M", "N", "O", "P", "Q", "R", _
     "S", "T", "U", "V", "W", "X", _
     "Y", "Z", "0", "1", "2", "3", _
     "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", _
     "a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f", _
     "g", "h", "i", "j", "k", "l", _
     "m", "n", "o", "p", "q", "r", _
     "s", "t", "u", "v", "w", "x", _
     "y", "z"}
    Dim rnd As New Random()
    Dim random As String = String.Empty
    Dim i As Integer = 0
    While i < numChars
        random += chars(rnd.[Next](0, 62))
        System.Math.Max(System.Threading.Interlocked.Increment(i), i - 1)
    End While
    Return random
End Function

Answer 1

Create a table with a big pool of 5-character strings that are added in sequence (so they are unique), and have a GUID as their primary key. Add a column to indicate whether they are used or not.

When you need a new number, you select top 1 from the pool, order by the guid (so it becomes random), and set the result as "spent".