Correct, some roles do not need a database user. They will typically be mapped to some user, like guest or dbo. A sysadmin will map to dbo.

I use reverse chronology so that I see the changes first when I'm looking. Over time when there are lots of changes, it's easy to get a little lost at...

I've almost always created a user in AD/Windows with no rights, assigned this user as the anon account in IIS. Then I can use it to run a DAL or...

Some good advice given, and sorry you're in a tough situation.

My advice would be this: change your attitude while you're there. Don't try to be a perfectionist, don't try to...

We can't know if there's a lock. You can check for blocking, as noted above, but what application is it? I might suggest you contact the vendor for that application.

You don't downgrade the server. The license has downgrade rights. You just install a SQL Server 2005 instance from the SS2K5 media

A login allows you access to the server. A user allows you to access a database. The link between these is what gives you access to the data (and permissions...

Likely you have an implicit conversion occurring somewhere. If you change to

month( dt_begin ) = month( getdate))

and day (dt_begin) = month(getdate())

and year( dr_begin) = year( getdate())

does that...

There are multiple reasons, but often it's a different execution plan than you expect, and that can be because of statistics being out of date. I usually look to check...

There's 2 things here. One is reformatting, one is documenting.

For reformatting, I'd get a tool. You'll waste the cost of the tool easy in doing this by hand. Red Gate...

That has to be an application message. SQL Server doesn't notify you of a lock. It just tries to wait until a timeout elapses, or the lock clears.

Applications sometimes raise...

If you want to do a maintenance task, I'd check integrity first (if you have time), then backup, then maintenance cleanup, then history cleanup.

If you can't do integrity every night,...

Downgrade rights are here: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/licensing-faq.aspx

If you have a new question, please start your own thread rather than piggy backing.

The installation steps for the cluster are on the Windows and SQL Server sites at Microsoft.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996568.aspx

https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=490420

Blandry has a great point. You definitely should be aware of retention of data that's needed, especially for legal reasons. That's one reason I'd like a backup of any items...