If you apply SP2 or greater to the client you have SSMS 2005 tools loaded on you should be able to connect to 2008. I am trying to...

Are you trying to run this job on the SQL server or through SSMS on your client machine? Have you tried going straight to it with using the UNC...

Completely agree...

If they are SQL Agent jobs then you should be able to go through SSMS and view the properties of each job to determine what they are doing.

I am not...

Mind you I don't deal much with the data side of SQL Server. This is just my thought from studying I have done on the subject for tests and...

A bit more detail is needed.

You say you have reviewed some of the job scripts or jobs themselves. What type of job is it (SQL Agent Job, maintenance plan,...

To get a definite answer on what ports your instance is listening on try this this article out: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294453

It shows the location the ports are actually set at. I...

Not that I have tried this but would be curious to know if you use it and how it works.

Microsoft has put out a free app that will assist you...

Not that I have tried this but would be curious to know if you use it and how it works.

Microsoft has put out a free app that will assist you...

A good question to ask your IT Director would be what type of recovery time is required for the database(s)?

I would agree with Steve though that backing up...

What is the minimum editions required of SQL and Visual Studio?

Being only a VBScript person and not a full blown .NET programmer (I can read it but not really write...