Question : WSS Content DB Restored and Access Denied

I have a WSS 3.0 install and the server OS (2k3) got corrupted and here's what I've done to restore it:

1. IBacked up the DB files
2. Reinstalled the OS (same server name, created the same local system accounts and passwords (No Domain)
3. Reinstalled and updated WSS to 3.0 SP1.
4. Took default content DB offline and removed it,
5. deleted default web app, shutdown sharepoint services and IIS
6. detatched default content db
7. attached old backed up content db
8. restarted sql 2005 embedded, started IIS and Sharepoint services
8. created new web app using the newly attached old content db
9.  Central Admin opens and runs fine. Sharepoint Site gives an access denied to the port 80 site for all users and even administrator account (can't get in period). No errors in the Event Viewer log.

I figure this is something to do with the old permissions and the new ones even though the account usernames and server name are the same.

If I can't get in that way, can I get access to the data that's in the content DB with SQL Server management studio or something? I mainly just need the data and I can start from scratch again.

Thanks for any help.

Answer : WSS Content DB Restored and Access Denied

Step #4 onward was where things went wrong.

To be clear all that can be restored is the content database for the non-Administration web sites (which I think you understand) but I wanted to be sure.

Here is what you do to restore a backup of a content database to a non-Administration website.

a) Create a new web application in Central Administration and use a name like 'Temp...' for the content database.
b) Restore and attach the backup of a content database in the appropriate SQL instance.
c) In Central Administration, add the content database to the web application with the temp database
d) Delete the temp database in Central Administration

That's it.  The web application will now work like it did before.