How do I re-attach a database without an LDF file?

Hi everybody,

I have a rather difficult situation that I have to deal with and have hit the limits of my sql/google/bing abilities.

I was contacted by one of our offices requesting me to restore a database - fine thinks I - give me the file, and away we go.

I was presented with a single MDF file!

I have tried the solution that is deemed "normal" in this situation:

 CREATE DATABASE ...... FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG

This provides the following error:

 File activation failure. The physical file name "XXXXXXXX" may be incorrect.
 
 The log cannot be rebuilt because there were open transactions/users when the
 database was shutdown, no checkpoint occurred to the database, or the database 
 was read-only. This error could occur if the transaction log file was manually 
 deleted or lost due to a hardware or environment failure.

After reading this message and some further digging I have found out that:

• the database system was stopped mid-operation (hence the open transactions)

• only the mdf file was copied off the server

• the backups were locally stored on the server

• the server was decommissioned and disks were destroyed

I have also tried creating a dummy DB, stealing the LDF file and starting up the database with the dummy LDF - no dice.

 One or more files do not match the primary file of the database. If you are 
 attempting to attach a database, retry the operation with the correct files.
 If this is an existing database, the file may be corrupted and should be 
 restored from a backup.

I am now at the point of seeing this as a lost cause - does anyone have anything else to say that could help me along at all?

Many thanks in advance for any help offered towards solving this big pile of FAIL.