Kudos on the use of openrowset to test the userid/password combination. Always great to check your work, especially if you can automate that check!
Charley Jones
A+, ITIL, MCAD, MCDBA, MCITP: Sql Server 2005 Adminstration, MCT,
MCTS: Sql Server 2005, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MOUS, PMP
President and Founder S3oLV.Com: Sql Server Society of Las Vegas
President and Founder LVXUG.Com: Las Vegas XNA Users Group