normally this means you have to reapply the service pack

Are you allowed to change the field back to autonumbering?

1) Do the tables in the new db have primary keys?

2)Is the user allowed to insert data (permissions?)

That query is huge.

I'll look into it tomorrow

I wouldn't count on sql server 2000 and sql 2005 living happily together on a cluster. A test would be at place.

You surely can install 2005 next to 2000 like...

No clue, I'm total new to SAN'S.

Does HP mayhaps have new firmware/software updates?

Is this using sql enterprise edition or higher?

I haven't got experience with dual cpu's.

Did you have a look at "parallel queries" in the books online?

Configuration Settings that Influence Parallel Queries

The following server configurations can affect parallel execution of...

Can we see the code of the stored procedure.

Is the hash table a temporary table (last for one connection) or a more permanent one?

*I'm wonding if the query will work at all

from tableB

where field1 not in (select field1 from tableB) /* every record eliminated + a subselect on each record executed because of...

Are you using ADO?

Can we see ( a piece) of your code that causes the error?

Are you deleting rows in the same statement?

according to Microsoft, if you use a SAN you need some different counters

Thanks for sharing. One more reason not to use select *

first make copy (try to name the fields instead of using select *)

SELECT * INTO Table2

FROM Table1

WHERE Finished='Yes'

afterwards cleaning out table1

the inner joins verifies you are only deleting "copied" records...

1) the query has extra subselects in the select clause, move them where possible in the from or where clause.

Have a look at

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/sql_server_performance_audit10.asp

and

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/query_execution_plan_analysis.asp

to analyze query...