identity(1,1)

Identity seed (=start) = 1 (first parameter)

Increase by 1 (second)

I see that the query executed directly on the database needs 65221 reads and takes 0.5 secs

And when it is the VB application that requests the query it needs also...

can I see a link to these best practises?

All best practises I've seen mention that all objects should be owned by dbo.

(permission chaining, limiting wildgrowth,...)

Databases are normally owned by sa...

out of my head:

varchar: easily searchable but limited to 8000 characters (4000 for nvarchar)

text: allows more but is not so searchable because it isn't stored in the "record" itself, just...

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?