>My dev computer and the working computer (2) are both connected to the same SQL Database.
>the 3rd computer using the same exe and dbc connects and opens tables but fails on an update that the other computers are succeeding in.
>
>computer 2 and 3 do not have VFP installed. computer 2 has sqlexpress and tools but is not connecting to the local db for this app.
>
>computer3 only has sql express management tools.
>
>why would one computer connect to the db, then fail seconds later with the handle message while the other 2 computers work?
>
>Will the client tools help me configure this?
>

John,

I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for you. I was just suggesting to try to write some commands (updates) directly in SQL Server.

Do you have read-write access to the database from the third computer?

Are you using mixed autothentication mode in SQL Server?

I hope someone else will jump in with more ideas.