no auto shrink is not on and there was no blocking taking place either.

I get this message when trying to attach the mdf supplied in the download.

GO

CREATE DATABASE pubsdev

ON PRIMARY (FILENAME = 'c:\dba\redgate\pubsdev.mdf')

FOR ATTACH

GO

same results for

EXEC sp_attach_single_file_db

@dbname = 'pubsdev',   

@physname = c:\DBA\REDGATE\pubsdev.mdf'

Server:...