just observed something odd.

When i created the SPN it was created like this:

MSSQLSvc/Srv1:Instance1

When I added the sql account to the domain admins and restarted it, it created the SPN like...

Its not a cluster, its a standalone pc.

Connecting from my desktop pc, which is on the same domain.

My account is a domain account.

I have checked the connection and it is...

cool, i...

The only thing that is not very clear to me is:

It makes...

no worries. think a bit of testing is required. Il post any results. thanks for the help.

I understand, but imagine a situation where I take a backup of an encrypted DB from ServerA Running under Account AccA.

ServerA is running under AccA as AccA has access to...

Dev (11/15/2011)

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The Service Master Key is the root of the SQL Server encryption hierarchy. It is generated automatically the first time it is needed to encrypt another key....

Apologiefor the path mistake. That was not the issue though. That was just a copy/paste blunder on my part. (spelling now corrected)

When I changed the srvc acc of the...

UPDATE: I got the Service Master Key restored to the Instance2. I had to change the sql service account on Instance2, to the same as was on the default instance.

Can...

Yep, that worked, thanks Gail! fantastically helpful as always!

of the second code block, this part fails with the error listed previously:

RESTORE Database BackupTests Filegroup='FG3' with RECOVERY

Thanks for that. it kind of helps. il adapt it to work against a table column and add a where clause. thanks for the help. really appreciate it!

nevermind, i see what you mean now. thanks!

my query is this:

use db

select *

from sys.dm_exec_requests r

cross apply sys.dm_exec_query_plan(r.plan_handle) as qp

where r.plan_handle is not null

if i run that for master, wont it just get query plans...

Well aware of that...