Way to identify what version of SQL a MSDE db is

[timscronin]

Our web guys had to reninstall a web monitoring product which stores it's data in msde. When done it had some archived db's I can't seem to attach to. Used SQL EM from 2000 to help them and I can copy the db's to a SQL 2000 server and attach fine. Can't do this with their new install. Ran @@version and it shows this is SQL7 version of msde. Can't attach their other files. Is there a way to check what version those files are that I can't attach?

 

[tlbroadbent]

What do you mean by "archived DBs?" What is the file extension? Are the files backup files by chance? If so, you should be able to restore rather than attach the databases. If you want to get the best answer for your question read faq183-874 and faq183-3179.
Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
SQL Server Page:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/sql/sql_articles.htm

 

[timscronin]

Their web app automatically archives the db to a new name when it approaches 2 gig. So the db will be renamed 03212003.mdb. The problem is that when they did the original install I am thinking they used 2000 MSDE, and when they did the reinstall of the product they used vers 7 MSDE. They have five db's they can not attach to on this machine, but I can copy the db to sql 2000 machine and attach.

 

[tlbroadbent]

That would do it. SQL 7 cannot attach SQL 2000 files. The only way you can get the files back to SQL 7 is to use DTS to export from SQL 2000 to SQL 7.

Does the licensing permit you to upgrade the SQL 7 MSDE to SQL 2000? Microsoft does place some tight restrictions on MSDE distribution but it may be possible particularly if the application previously installed MSDE 2000. If you want to get the best answer for your question read faq183-874 and faq183-3179.
Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
SQL Server Page:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/sql/sql_articles.htm