thanks for your input... that server only had SQL 2000 loaded on it. their is a possiblity that it's a MSDE database but that should not make a difference...

I tried your suggestion

sp_attach_single_file_db @dbname = 'SWATraining',

@physname = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\SWATraining.mdf'

but reason this error

Server: Msg 5172, Level 16, State 15, Line 1

The header for file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\SWATraining.mdf'...