How to remove disconnected user and gain exclusive access

[TheSmileyCoder]

I have a problem where a user has yanked his laptop out of the docking station while having my database application (A frontend/backend setup) open.

Now the backend is locked and I can't gain exclusive access to make my modifications.

I know there are several threads about how to have the frontend application automatically logout after a certain amount of time, but that is not what I am after.

Since I know that the user has "left the building", is there anything I can do to remove him from the .ldb file short of rebooting the server?

[NeoPa]

1. Ensure all users are logged off the BE database.
2. Attempt to delete LDB file.
3. If that succeeds then job done. Otherwise continue.
4. Open Computer Management (In Admin Tools) on the server itself as a local (at least) administrator.
5. Select Shared Folders then Open Files.
6. Find LDB file in the list.
7. Right-Click on it and select Close open file.
8. Repeat from step #2 above.

[Rabbit]

I suspect though that the database may be on a shared network folder. In which case one of the network admins would have to run those steps on that server.

[TheSmileyCoder]

Thank you both for your swift replies.

I however, am not a network administrator, nor will I ever be :)

[NeoPa]

Don't tell your Net Admin, but sometimes even they need telling how to do it. Not a large proportion of those I met (in my capacity as Networks Manager) would know how to do that quickly and easily.

At least if you don't have direct access, you can still pass the directions on to anyone that does ;-)