ACT! installs 2nd instance no SA or Win-Admin access to..

25 Mar 2005 9:12 PM

Scott Davis

Folks,

It's a bit of a wierd one, I know.. I installed ACT! (CRM -- POS)
today. My machine is 2003 Server running SQL-2000/std/sp3.

The ACT! installation creates a second SQL instance, i.e. <machinename>\ACT7

ACT! does not tell me what the sa password for this instance is.
To complicate matters further, "administrators" can not connect to this
instance using the Enterprise Manager or T-SQL tools..

So, They're hiding their schema. Whooptie-fine -- I don't care about
that. I'd like to schedule backups and maintenance tasks though..
without depending on the application.

How on earth does one recover access to an instance when you've got no
administrative rights? A quick google didn't help me with SA password
recovery.

This installation is still in the test lab -- so I can be as mean to it
as I want. Any and/or all suggestions would be appreciated!

My sincere thanks,
-- Scott.

(416) 432-4334.

28 May 2005 5:53 AM

Scott Davis

Folks,

I wrote the below about -- what -- 3 months ago?

I've been receiving calls from all across North America regarding that post.

SO many calls, in fact, that I'm now asking you lot to *STOP* calling me
about this issue.

I've found no solution. ACT! cripples the ACT7 SQL instance and there's
nothing that can be done about it.. (aside from boycotting the product..)

I'm going to go ahead and scream bloody murder to "best software" next
week.. but I dunna think they're going to care.

-- Scott.

Scott Davis wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

> Folks,
>
> It's a bit of a wierd one, I know.. I installed ACT! (CRM -- POS)
> today. My machine is 2003 Server running SQL-2000/std/sp3.
>
> The ACT! installation creates a second SQL instance, i.e.
> <machinename>\ACT7
>
> ACT! does not tell me what the sa password for this instance is.
> To complicate matters further, "administrators" can not connect to this
> instance using the Enterprise Manager or T-SQL tools..
>
>
> So, They're hiding their schema. Whooptie-fine -- I don't care about
> that. I'd like to schedule backups and maintenance tasks though..
> without depending on the application.
>
>
> How on earth does one recover access to an instance when you've got no
> administrative rights? A quick google didn't help me with SA password
> recovery.
>
>
> This installation is still in the test lab -- so I can be as mean to it
> as I want. Any and/or all suggestions would be appreciated!
>
>
> My sincere thanks,
> -- Scott.
>
> (416) 432-4334.

--
====================================================
Scott Davis,        45 Dunfield Av, Unit 2117
Self-Employed        Toronto, ON, Canada, M4S 2H4
Tech Consultant        Mobile. (416) 432-4334
The IP addrs I use to post all UseNet:
66.207.215.240/29
====================================================

3 Aug 2005 7:40 PM

eloi

Scott Davis wrote:

> I've found no solution. ACT! cripples the ACT7 SQL instance and > there's
> nothing that can be done about it.. (aside from boycotting the > product..)
>

I've decided to boycott the product after they put out an update that's as abysmally slow as the original. I just can't get my data out.....

I've never worked with ODBC databases (or SQL Server), so this may be a shot in the dark. Have you tried using ACT7Diag.exe to disconnect the contact DB from that server instance?

I'm assuming that the sa password belongs to the server instance and not to the Database itself.

Can someone tell me if that'll work before I go through the trouble of borrowing a copy of SQL Server? -- eloi ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Posted via http://www.mcse.ms ------------------------------------------------------------------------ View this thread: http://www.mcse.ms/message1512068.html

4 Aug 2005 6:26 PM

Andrew Dadmun

Let me just add that Act! is a piece of crap IMHO. We used Act! at my
previous job and then "upgraded" to SalesLogix (they bought Act!) They were
Interact Commerce and I think now it's Best Software (that's a misnomer if I
ever saw one.) Now, at my new job, I was dismayed to find out that they use
Act! as well.

Anyway, regarding SQL access in Act!7 (aka 2005) - you can't do it. Period.
During the install process, a script is run that removes administrator
access from the SQL instance. This same script is found within one (or
more) of the DLLs that come with Act!

We are looking into new CRM software presently since Act! is slow. With
SalesLogix, you could at least get access to the SQL backend, but not with
Act! The only way I know of to backup/restore databases is within the Act!
GUI itself.

Horrible, horrible software! Using it is bad enough, but supporting it is a
nightmare!

Regards,
Andy D.