I've tried many things suggested around the web and have not been able to do this:

On sandbox server:

1. Back up DNN DB

2. Back up DNN files from IIS hosting root

On production server:

3. Restore DNN DB

4. Host DNN files from step 2 in new IIS site

5. Do basic housekeeping, e.g.: change db connection strings and portal aliases, etc.

6. Log in to new DNN site on production, which is identical clone of DNN site on sandbox... Doesn't work!

Is there no way to get this to work with DNN?