You have three choices

1. delete 30GB of data

2. move data to separate databases. Meaning either move a portion of data from each table to a new database

3.move certain tables to...

Is that a "yes"?

BTW,...

Why do you need to move to Express? I'm asking, so that I can try to see if there is something you can do.

The short answer is no, you need...

I would concur with Jared and Gail here. The licenses seem to read, to me, that you cannot use other systems for analysis or reporting of live data, but if...

Why do you want to reduce the file size to 20GB?

Second, if you have a 40GB file, with 1GB unallocated, then you have 39GB of data. If you need to...

I changed the question too, to note that the shrink runs shorter.

It's certainly a strange behavior, and one I'm not sure I like.

I think I'll refund all points for now.

Call MS. They do not document this stuff well, mostly I think to avoid people gaming the system.

AFAIK, you cannot use development stuff for production. They are fairly liberal on...

SQL Kiwi (1/24/2012)

I tried snowboarding once (in a supervised inside environment[/url]) and that was enough to convince me that I have no...

This help? http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic556439-146-1.aspx

Audit classes (as per Colleen) : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280663.aspx

I didn't see the note about starting the shrink and changing the files.

I'll update the question to clarify.

SQL Kiwi (1/24/2012)

That's a fair point. ...

But you can ski? Maybe down the street in Bellevue 😉

I won't be attending either. Too committed to other stuff...

As I was just told, this is the launch, not release.

Tend to agree with Gail. Set it. If it gets changed, investigate why, but it shouldn't be.

If you are only worried about daily backups, leave it in simple.