Hello: We want to retire a windows 2000 server (server A). Server B (Windows server 2003 standard edition sp2) runs Sharepoint services 2.0 sp3. Server B connects to Server A via SQL server service mgr which runs on the system tray lower right hand corner. Without this connection, our website cannot be accessed. Server A has Microsoft SQL server desktop engine installed plus MSSQL server service started and set to automatic. Server B has Microsoft sql server desktop engine (sharepoint) and Microsoft windows sharepoint services 2.0 sp3 in add/remove programs. MSSQL$sharepoint service is started. Sql agent sharepoint is not started. How do we connect to another server so we can retire server A? We have Server C which has Microsoft SQL server 2005 installed with MGMT studio express. The SQLserver (mssqlserver) service is started. Server C also uses Deltek MSDE-sqlexpress console for our accounting/billing software. Server C is Windows server 2003 r2 standard edition sp2. We have Server D which is a new 2008 storage server. Any ideas, if we should use server C to connect server B or use Server D with a free download of SQL express? Also, where in sharepoint do you connect the sql servers? On server B in sql server service manager, I try to connect to server C (which is in the drop down list) it comes up with an error message "system cannot find the file specified". We had an outside company setup sharepoint and the sql server the first time, but are no longer in business. I know it's a loaded question and quite unique, but any help would be appreciated immensely. Thank you.

Hello Taygio, If you have installed Windows SharePoint Services with the default options (you are not using remotesql=yes), If this is true you have to reinstall WSS 2.0 . Bust looking at the problem description looks like you are anyway connection to a SQL on a different box . If yes , you can definately point the existing installation to a new SQL server. Below is a list of Database servers you can connect WSS 2.0 environment to Database Requirements ==================== In addition to the operating system and Web server software, you must also have a database installed on your server (or on a separate server) to run Windows SharePoint Services 2.0. The following databases are supported: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition or SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition, with the latest service pack Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition or SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, with the latest service pack Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Workgroup Edition or SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, with the latest service pack Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (Windows) (WMSDE) Please click on the link below for details http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288713(office.12).aspx : Hardware and Software Requirements (Windows SharePoint Services 2.0) To answer your question on, "where in sharepoint do you connect the sql servers?" I would say that WSS 2.0 Central Administration gives you an interface to do so . You have multiple database to which we talk to like config and content database. Please note if you are not sure on the steps that needs to be taken the entire SharePoint server can go down . Please ensure you have working copy of backup and also simulate the steps in a test environment before you migrate the production . If you are planning to connect to a SQl 2005 you have to create a new Configuration database Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services uses a database to store configuration and site mapping information for your server computer, the virtual servers on your server computer, and for servers in a server farm. This database is called the configuration database. You need one configuration database for your server farm, whether your server farm is one server computer with everything on it, or several server computers. Please click on the link below for details : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288420(office.12).aspx : Managing the Configuration Database (Windows SharePoint Services 2.0) Once this is done you have to move over the content databases for each web application you have. With Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, you can back up and restore individual Web sites hosted on your server or server farm. You can use this backup and restore method to replace a site that has become corrupted, or that contains changes that need to be rolled back. This backup and restore method is not dependent on the type of database you are using. You can perform this backup and restore method even if you are running Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (Windows) (WMSDE) instead of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005. Please click on the link below for details : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288330(office.12).aspx Backing Up and Restoring Web Sites (Windows SharePoint Services 2.0) Also note this does not guarantee the movement of any customization which may have been done with static references to the existing SQL instance you have, hence this may need to additionally migrated . Also just my thoughts since you mentioned that you had someone else set up the server, please ensure you test out the steps on a test environment or else someone who has performed the actions earlier may be of help when you perform the actions on production. Hope this helps . ======================================== Regards Manas-MSFT

Thank you so much for the info! Have a great day.