Can you try creating a SQL Server login on the SQL Server (you are using mixed mode, right?) and test that login? Is the problem on the server or...

Is it possible you are running out of TCP ports? I've seen instances where adjusting the TCPTimeWaitDelay and MaxUserPort registry settings helped to extend the available TCP ports.

You can absolutely use SQL Server to ENCRYPT a field without modifying the app's source code. DECRYPTING is a different story.

You could create INSTEAD OF INSERT/UPDATE triggers to re-issue...

LOL

-- code to return "Yes" or "No"

IF EXISTS(SELECT f.status FROM #Filed f WHERE LOWER(f.status) LIKE 'filed')

SELECT 'YES'

ELSE

SELECT 'NO'

Try resetting the DB owner (sa is usually safe):

USE Data

EXEC sp_changedbowner 'sa'

http://www.sqlcoffee.com/Troubleshooting011.htm

Obviously something is trying to log in to sa with the old password. Is SQL Agent able to run? What login is it configured to use? Does...

I ran both queries on SQL Server 2008 R2 Express AND SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Evaluation editions. The queries worked fine, and returned results. Is Performance Monitor...

You should be able to speed up the update significantly by first removing all indexes. I would script out the indexes to files, remove them, perform the update, then...

I would backup the databases and then restore them to new DBs on the dev server.

It comes with SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms365166.aspx

You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4c6ba9fd-319a-4887-bc75-3b02b5e48a40&displaylang=en

Have you checked to make sure the SQL Server TCP port (default is 1433) is configured correctly in the Configuration Manager, and that there is no firewall blocking connectivity?

What edition and version of SQL Server 2008 are you using? R2 Developer, Standard, Express, etc...

I just ran both queries in SQL Server 2008 R2 Express and they worked fine. What edition are you using?

If you are just using the SELECT for a report, can you just do this:

SELECT '0000' + CAST(ID AS VARCHAR) AS StuID

FROM STU

?