I read several posts and tried their tricks, but my problem is different: I did back up my database and ran DBCC SHRINKFILE on the TLog. RESTORE FILELISTONLY shows exactly what we expect: 37 GB in the MDF and 1 GB in the LDF. I have plenty of space to RESTORE this to my 300 GB E: Drive; however, the error message says there is not enough space on C: Drive. "Why use C:" is my first question. C: is only 50 GB and only used for OS and shared Sql Server files. All our data files are on 300 GB D:, E:, and F: drives. If I can direct the RESTORE to a different drive, like F:, all will work fine. "But how to do it?" is the next question.
The best I can see is that the original database was on a farm on disk D:. I am restoring the database to a different farm, where data is stored on E:, and there D: is a CD Drive. I imagine that since the original location on Farm 1 was D:, SQL Server attempts to RESTORE to farm 2 on D: (the CD Drive) and cannot. Therefore, it changes the destination and attempts a RESTORE to C:. ?Is this what's happening?" I ask. Is there a solution besides enlarging C:?
-mrkcc