You have to be careful how you use the word RESTRICTED in SQL Server. Using the startup instance of

C:\SQL\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn>sqlservr.exe -c -f

puts the instance in minimal configuration. This is for setting of a configuration value The option enables the sp_configure allow updates option. On the other hand, the term RESTRICTED in SQL Server refers to the USER that can access things such as the RESTRICTED_USER option of the ALTER DATABASE command. RESTRICTED here refers to only members of the db_owner fixed database role and dbcreator and sysadmin fixed server roles that can connect to the database. MINIMAL CONFIGURATION and the term RESTRICTED are two totally different things in SQL Server, where semantics does matter. Regards. Travis.