I think this is going to end up in the 'Unsolvable Glitch' folder.

-SQLBill

Were there any other queries running at the time?

Any maintenance being done? Backups?

This might just be one of those unexplained happenings.

-SQLBill

It's been awhile since you had the problem, have you solved it?

One question I have is: How was the backup done? Did you use SQL Server to do the backup...

It looks like TIMESTAMP is really a VARCHAR column (since it has parenthesis in it), so try:

DELETE FROM mytable

WHERE CAST((SUBSTRING(TIMESTAMP,1,10)) AS DATETIME) < GETDATE()-90

The SUBSTRING will get just the date...

You may actually have two separate issues.

1-the cluster failed over

2-the error message

The error message may be a result of the query running while the failover was occuring.

Did you 'see' the...

The only way to recover lost data is to restore from a backup.

However, you may not have lost data. What is your actual table structure?

On table A, there seems to...

Also, are there any related messages in the Windows Event Viewer logs (security, application, system logs)?

-SQLBill

I agree with George that you aren't giving us enough information to help you. What version of SQL Server 2000 are you using?

How are you trying to login?

-SQLBill

Sukhoi,

SET DATEFORMAT allows you to tell SQL Server what format the date is being sent as.

You can use several different formats:

SET DATEFORMAT dmy

SET DATEFORMAT mdy

SET DATEFORMAT ymd

So, for your input...

Steve (hoo-t),

Have you considered submitting that script? I think you should, it would be a great addition to the library.

-SQLBill

What kind of cluster do you have? Active/Passive or Active/Active?

On the issue of installing MSDE on a cluster, I know I was thinking that you wanted MSDE clustered so it...

Have you checked the SQL Server Error logs and the Windows Event Viewer Logs for any error messages that might give more of an insight?

-SQLBill

Usually all the computers are in the same domain. If not, then the logins/passwords are being authenticated by the same domain controller. So, I believe your worksite computer needs to...

This might be simpler (I have not tested it)...

Create a trigger with:

IF (SELECT CONVERT(CHAR(30), CURRENT_USER)) IN ('list of approved usernames)

THEN <code here to allow change>

ELSE <code here to not allow change>

-SQLBill

Bottom line is that if the login BUILTIN/ADMINISTRATORS exists, the Windows admins have access to SQL Server.

Depending on how much security you want, you can remove that login and they...