Being a Hoosier like Jeff (CST near Chicago) I've had to deal with this 'thing' for some time now. The real pain is not Windows or SQL Server nor servers...

If you are doing SQL Server authentication (using the TCP port default) then you should only need the following ports:

TCP 1433

UDP 1434

You probably need to look at your web server logs for more detailed diagnostics.

to reiterate:

"Locks only keep honest people out!"

What tool are you using ? What user ID ? If the user ID is 'sa' and you can't get in then you have real issues since it's default database...

Here's my 'short list' for tuning:

Round I

    DBCC UPDATEUSAGE

    UPDATE STATISTICS (with FULL scan) for all tables

    exec sp_recompile for all tables

    exec sp_refreshview for all views

Round II

    DBCC DBREINDEX

   ...

Here's a handy link about the System Tables that no DBA should be without:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/previousversions/systables.mspx

It seems that you've found the soultion. The only different scenario is that of shutting down the initial MSDE instance and taking copies of all the .mdf, .ndf and .ldf...

Supply and Demand curves aside ... what we've all forgotten is one of the most basic economic tenets; The "Marginal Propensity to Consume" ... aka The "Pig Principle" ... in...

It appears that you are at a juncture and need to make a decision. Based on what I've read you can either  "Download the MSDE engine from MS and call...

Good valid points Brian ... but one has to remember that:

"Locks only keep honest people out!"

Definitely a different perspective ... a keeper for Friday afternoon humor trading ...

here's a copuple of handy links as well:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321185#E6ADAAA

http://www.sqlsecurity.com/FAQs/SQLServerVersionDatabase/tabid/63/Default.aspx

The concern about 'other' using the accounts to login is a moot one if you 'revoke' 'interactive login' from with Active Directory. The only real issu that I've heard of...

A few things to add no matter what the source for your 'standards' that really should apply anywhere:

There must be:

• management buy-in and support
• a process associated with the 'standards'
• enforcement of the 'standards'
• room...