How to create a single 2005 .mdf file from a 2000 .mdf and multiple .ndf data files ?

Greetings,
We're migrating one of our older databases from Sql Server 2000 to Sql
Server 2005.
The old sql server 2000 data files were limited to 2G .mdf and .ndf files.
This was basically because we backed the files up to a UNIX system that had
a 2G file size limit.
Now we're migrating to a brand new Sql Server 2005 system with a 400G tape
backup system and it would seem preferable to append all the 2G .ndf files
into one 10G .mdf file on the new system.
Unfortunately all of the Restore, Move, etc options that I've explored want
to move and recreate the original 2G .mdf and the 6 additional 2G .ndf files
on the new Sql Server 2005 server.
Is there some tool or method I can use that will allow me to create a single
.mdf on the Sql Server 2005 side that consists of the original .mdf and
appended .ndf Sql Server 2000 data files '
Thanks in advance.
Barry
in Oregon"frostbb" <barry.b.frost@.remove-this-spam-filter.state.or.us> wrote in
message news:e8GUoGCNHHA.3268@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Greetings,
> We're migrating one of our older databases from Sql Server 2000 to Sql
> Server 2005.
> The old sql server 2000 data files were limited to 2G .mdf and .ndf files.
> This was basically because we backed the files up to a UNIX system that
> had a 2G file size limit.
> Now we're migrating to a brand new Sql Server 2005 system with a 400G tape
> backup system and it would seem preferable to append all the 2G .ndf files
> into one 10G .mdf file on the new system.
>
There isn't any pressing need to do that.

> Unfortunately all of the Restore, Move, etc options that I've explored
> want to move and recreate the original 2G .mdf and the 6 additional 2G
> .ndf files on the new Sql Server 2005 server.
> Is there some tool or method I can use that will allow me to create a
> single .mdf on the Sql Server 2005 side that consists of the original .mdf
> and appended .ndf Sql Server 2000 data files '
>
No. You can empty and remove each ndf file once the database is restored
using DBCC SHRINKFILE and ALTER DATABASE.
David|||David,
Many thanks for the quick response. I've got plenty to learn about Sql
Server.
Will read up on DBCC Shrinkfile. Still trying to get my 'head around' how
Sql Server 'thinks'
about it's data & log files.
Barry
in Oregon
"David Browne" <davidbaxterbrowne no potted meat@.hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:ODTolWCNHHA.320@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
> "frostbb" <barry.b.frost@.remove-this-spam-filter.state.or.us> wrote in
> message news:e8GUoGCNHHA.3268@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> There isn't any pressing need to do that.
>
> No. You can empty and remove each ndf file once the database is restored
> using DBCC SHRINKFILE and ALTER DATABASE.
> David
>
>