by Richard Jones.
Thanks all for the information and the links to the tracker. Yes, when the same update query is executed directly in the query window it works. Having just moved our install to sqlserver all this is a bit new to me.
We are upgrading (on our test server, thanks be)
from $release = '2.4.1+ (Build: 20130214)';
to $release = '2.4.2 (Build: 20130311)';
using php_sqlsrv_53_nts_vc9
If I read the runes correctly one possible solution (best current?) would be to move to the FreeTDS driver and hope that the Moodle Project continues to support those who must use MS.
Thanks again
Richard