Can't access SQL server using ASPNET account

[OnTheAnvil]

I have a Win2000 webserver, Win2003 dbase server running SQL Server 2000, and a NT box as a primary domain controller: I know what you're thinking but it worked last Friday. :) Anyway, sometime over the weekend all of the web apps that access the SQL Server got connection errors like they don't have permission to access the database. I'm using SQL ODBC drivers on the web server from MDAC 2.7 or 2.8. When I run a EXE from the web server with the exact same connection string as a web app, I have no problems at all. I went to administrative tools and reconfigured the ODBC driver and tested it and again no problem. I also created a UDL file with the same connection variables and it works.

When I plug my laptop into the network and try to run any of my web apps on my local machine that try and connect to the same SQL server they all fail but when I run a EXE no problems. This makes me think that the problem is not specifically with the web server but probably somewhere in between it and the dbase server. All the web apps use anonymous authentication for users to log in.

I have a million bosses breathing down my neck to fix this so any suggestions would be great. If you mention anything about changing the ASPNET account to run on a different account by editing the machine.config file please be specific because I've tried a few things already.

 

My 2 different connection strings look something like this:

Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;uid=USER1;pwd=1234;database=NorthWind;Data Source=SQLSERVER1;

 

Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;Password=1234;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=USER1;Initial Catalog=StarLIMS;Data Source=sSQLSERVER1;Network Library=dbnmpntw

Thanks,

OnTheAnvil