Ugh...ran across this today at work. I'm using a linked server (MSDE client to SQL2000 server) and the statement is "insert into xxx exec remoteserver.dbName.dbo.someSP..."

Apparently, the "insert into foo exec bar..." syntax causes an implicit distributed transaction to be started. This is tricky for me, since my client machines may not always be running MSDTC, headaches with firewall and dist transactions, etc.

Google Groups : microsoft.public.sqlserver.connect

Looks like my only other choice is go back to building a string and then OPENQUERY.