I'm not sure I have an article specifically addressing this, but moving all data to a specific key can be an issue later with untangling them. NULL is there for...

Use the windows scheduled tasks and SQLCMD. Pass the stored proc as a parameter to SQLCMD.

Two or three? There were three correct answers to check.

The VM test isn't an all or nothing. It doesn't make the decision, it just provides input. Along with the questioning and interaction, this isn't "stump the chump", it's evaluating...

well, I thought that ALTER DATABASE SET ONLINE would work but it doesn't in 2005. Perhaps my memory is failing.

RESTORE DATABASE xxx WITH RECOVERY will bring it online.

(Donald Farmer accent): Newbie, I've given you all I've got. We can't push it any harder. That query on the dilithium table will came apart if you keep running it.

As Gail mentioned, you want to get the results of this to see what's wrong. 20 hours does seem like a long time. How large is the DB?

My guess is...

Wow, two complements in a row.

Nice job, VM

Do all your restores using the NORECOVERY option, and then you can use an ALTER DATABASE to bring the database online. The reason is that if you don't use this,...

I agree, nice re-write, Paul.

You need the log space. The only thing that will let you use less peak log space is more frequent log backups.

Fair enough, Paul White. I'm not sure what I could do here now other than watch for more info and revise things when it's available.

If it's not clear to you,...

sys.sql_logins

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174355(SQL.90).aspx

There must be something else, like what Gail has listed.

I think some products use .dat as an extension. Someone may just use that as a default, which is a bad idea.