I ran the following: 

SELECT name, compatibility_level FROM sys.databases

It returned compatibility_mode = 100 [Sql Server 2008]

When I restore an older db [dataset, backup, from a 2005 system] to a new db [2008 system] does it make any difference?  In other words is the backup dataset coded differently?  That might tell me how to 'convert'...  It probably is only easy in my mind...

Bob H.

p.s.   What I still need to try is incrementally stepping through the 'upgrade' process.  That involves researching which 'bigger' steps are safe to take.  I got so screwed up with crap lingering in my 3.x to 5.x databases through upgrades a couple of years ago that I rebuilt totally at 5.6.2.  DNN sorely needs a portal import/export utility that is dependable [100%, 4.0]  Most seem to agree.  It surely is harder than it sounds...  What is there works well when it works.

Right now I'm sick of the prospect.  6.x works for now.  I need to find something better.  I cannot re-build dozens of sites from the ground up with every major release.