Thanks for the info Mike. This particular server is running the service under the local account. This might also explain why I can create a linked server from a different development box which is running the sql server service with a domain account.

However this makes me wonder about an existing linked server (on the box that wont cooperate) which is connecting to a SQL Server 7 database over the public internet on an ISP shared system. I wonder if both SQL Servers are running the service as the Local System Account if it works or if there is something different about connecting to SQL Server 7?

I'll get an account setup and make the switch when the server is available. I'll post the results.

-Isaac


>>Can anyone suggest what else I might be missing or should look at?
>
>When using Linked Servers, it is the SQL Server service that is connecting to the remote data source. Is SQL Server running under the Local System account? If so, try a domain account.
>
>-Mike