>>I am currently running 2008 sp3. I have a database with a 375GB data file, about 75% of which is unallocated space. I very much need to release that back to the system, as my disk is 95% full. The DB is SIMPLE logged. I have tried using the gui based shrink database, also shrink file. I have tried to shrink the tempdb to gain some disc space, but that will not shrink either. The tempdb is also SIMPLE logged, if that matters. I have tried to shrink the log file of my DB, now 25GB of unallocated space, and that also does not work. i have tried scripting the efforts (each of them), and that does not work.
>>
>>I have looked online, and found that many people have this same problem. Is this a bug in SQL 2008 (SP3)?? If not, Does anyone have any suggestions. I am at the point of taking the DB offline to keep it from crashing.
>
>Will you be able to re-start the server?

Yes, in order to keep the disc from crashing, I have now moved the tempdb to another drive, which did require reboot. The production DB is still in need of shrinking.