We tested the query in both 80 and 90 with the same result. I think you're correct about rewriting the query. The concern I have is how many more differences...

between the join of the two tables. Where it had a comma I substituted "inner hash join" and for "where" I substituted "on".

select

clientid,...

Alzdba,

    Thanks for the advice -- definitely good practices. Unfortunately it didn't change the query plan or the execution time. There may be nothing but I'm still looking for something...

Lynn,

  Thanks for your replies. The last query you sent me executes in < 1 sec. and gives the correct result! The one right before that (the second query that...

According to Microsoft the problem is caused by a corrupted password hash for a login. They sent us a work-around as follows:

<>    Start the in place upgrade...