OK. No SQL spelunking skills needed for this. There are two methods for accomplishing this depending on the DNN version:
1. If you are using a 4.5.4 version (might be a couple eariler versions before that as well) then you can go to any page and login as an administrator. In the control panel, click on the "design" icon under page functions. This will disable all module rendering on the page. Now you can use the "Admin/Pages" screen to navigate to the offending page. You should see all the module titles and module action menus, but no actual content. Since the actual module code is never called, you are free to move modules around or delete them without any errors getting in the way.
2. If you are using an older DNN version that doesn't have the design icon, then it becomes a bit more difficult. In this case you need to login as a Host and go to the "Host Settings" screen. Scroll down and expand the "Advanced Settings/Other Settings" section. Change the control panel to "CLASSIC" and click the "update" button. Now in the control panel, make sure the "Content" checkbox is UNCHECKED. This is the equivelent function as "Design" mode on the new Control Panel.
A couple of years ago when we moved to the new control panel, this was my number one pet peeve - we removed this critical bit of functionality from the UI, and if you didn't know about the old Control Panel, then you were stuck. With the recent addition of the "Design" button, we finally have this handy feature now available once again.
Hope that helps.