Are you able to start service for any of these 2008 instances?

Manu

From-->http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlblog/archive/2006/10/06/MSDTC-and-SQL-Server-on-a-cluster.aspx

Do I need to install MSDTC on my SQL Server 2005 cluster?

Before installing SQL Server 2005 on a failover cluster, Microsoft strongly recommends that you install and configure Microsoft Distributed...

Were you making use SET XACT_ABORT(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188792.aspx) in your stored procedure? If yes, then need not worry as SQL rollbacked evrything for u. If not, then it depends when and...

I hope explanation at below mentioned link answers ur question:

http://www.eraofdata.com/blog/2008/12/orphaned-msdtc-transactions-2-spids/

Manu

Go thru http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/virtualserver/deploy/cvs2005.mspx

HTH!

MJ

Try this:

SELECT a.* FROM OPENROWSET('SQLOLEDB',

'DRIVER={SQL Server};SERVER=ServerName;Trusted_Connection=yes;',

'SET NOCOUNT ON;SET FMTONLY OFF; exec (''dbcc inputbuffer(SPID)'')') AS a

MJ

If there is nothing in blcoked state then no issue to leave it as is.

MJ

Run Alter table tabName Alter column columnName Newdatatype in mgmt. studio and it will take time based on the records count in the table.

MJ

Can you do it if we provide you with t-sql scripts to fetch the same info?

MJ

Replace it with "Name".

Manu

I think Lee is talking about the trace flag 1118.

How implementing trace flag -T1118 reduces contention

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328551

MJ

Try running from CD after uninstalling the .Net from the machine.

MJ

Read-->Use DBCC CLEANTABLE to Reclaim Unused Space in Your SQL Server Tables

at-->http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/21762

MJ

Take some help from http://vyaskn.tripod.com/server_side_tracing_in_sql_server.htm

MJ

Have you tried "sp_get_sqlagent_properties" stored procedure residing under msdb database. Execute it and you will see one column named "auto_start". Make use of it if useful.

MJ