MSDE is giving me a headache...any help appreciated 1

[TommieB]

I have a SQL 2000 database with an Access frontend (I know, I know, but I didn't write it, just got stuck working on it). Now they tell me that this program may be distributed to clients that might not have SQL server so I should have MSDE install to their machine.

Fine....I can do that. Got it to install first thing, but.....I can not get my SQL database to attach to it.

I tried a restore first and MSDE threw that up, so I found some code on attaching the files after detaching them from the SQL server. I get an error that the header file is not valid, but I can detach from one SQL server and attach it to another one with no problem. I looked on MS support and found only one entry for this message and it has to do with the machine where the original database was created having an Adaptec DTO Raid card. Sure enough the original machine did, BUT I tried the same thing with a database that I created on my server and I get the same error message.

So I uninstalled MSDE 1.0 and tried MSDE 2000 thinking that maybe it was because they were created with SQLS 2000 and MSDE is SQLS 7, the install went fine but I could not connect to it with server name [local], userid "sa", pwd "". Strange since that is how the installer sets it up.

Can anyone help me with this?

I am at my wits end and am considering either suicide or machinocide, haven't decided which yet.

Please don't just direct me to MSDN or Microsoft, I have read every article they have a kazillion times.

I NEED REAL HELP AND I AM NOT AFRAID TO BEG FOR IT.

Thanks for any help.

 

[tlbroadbent]

Are you sure MSDE is running? Have you opened the Service Manager to see the status? Service manager shortcut can be found in the SQL Server program group. Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
Computing Links:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/prog.htm

faq183-874 contains "Suggestions for Getting Quick and Appropriate Answers" to your questions.

 

[TommieB]

Thanks but I finally got it figured out. It would appear that MSDE 2000 does not automatically use SQL security mode on NT machines, so you have to put an entry in the setup.ini file for SECURITYMODE=SQL. Once I did that MSDE 2000 installed and once started the database attached with no problems. I never could attach it to MSDE 1.0 so I have to assume that it is due the the fact that the Db was created in 2000 and MSDE 1.0 is SQL 7.

 

[Iorek]

Hi TommieB,

I know you solved your MSDE database problem, but here is a link to a MIcrosoft article on this subject. The script in this article could be incorporated into an installation setup to handle the automatic connection of .mdf databases to MSDE.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-GB;q208888

Maybe someone else needs this information one day.

 

[TheDTrain]

My experience is that this could be one of several things

1) Do you get prompted for a "server" or "host" name?
If you do, make sure that you put in the local machine name

2) Make sure it is Windows 98 second edition and that you use IE 5.5 or better

 

[dvrobin]

TommieB,
Thanks for coming back here with the answer. I was having the same problem, and couldn't find the solution anywhere. It's rare that I see someone come back and post the answer to their own question. You got a star from me!
Dave Robinder, MCSD
Consultant
Booz Allen Hamilton
Colorado Springs, CO
(719) 590-6041