How to upgrade SQL 2005 or 2008 Express to SQL 2008 R2 Express

Instructions:

1. Download the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installer:

   NOTE:

   SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe. If the 64-bit version of SQL 2008 R2 Express is downloaded and the existing installation of Windows and/or SQL Express is 32-bit, the installation will either fail to extract or there will be no upgrade option.

   http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30438

   You must download the same ‘bitness’ of the installer in order to upgrade an existing instance. For example, if running SQL 2005 Express 32-bit, download. If the 64-bit version of SQL 2008 R2 Express is downloaded and the existing installation of Windows and/or SQL Express is 32-bit, the installation will either fail to extract or there will be no upgrade option.

2. Run the installer to extract the files and begin the installation.

3. On the first page click the Upgrade from SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008 link.

4. On the License Terms page enable the “I accept the license terms” option and then click Next.

5. On the Select Instance page, make sure to select the correct named or default instance that you will be upgrading and then click Next.

6. On the Error Reporting page click Next to begin the upgrade.

7. Once the upgrade completes click Close.

The database engine will now be upgraded to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express which will have a 10 GB database size limit.

If SQL Server Management Studio Express had been installed previously for an older version of SQL Express, before you can manage the 2008 R2 instance it will be necessary to download and install SQL 2008 R2 Management Studio Express:

1. First, uninstall the older version of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express under Add or Remove Programs or Programs and Features if it is already installed. If this is not done, the installation of the SQL 2008 R2 Express tools will fail.

2. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22985

   Once again, make sure to download the correct installer (x86 or x64) for your server and SQL installation.

   Download the SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio Express installer:Once again, make sure to download the correct installer (x86 or x64) for your server and SQL installation.

3. Run the installer to extract the files and begin the installation.

4. On the first page click the New installation or add features to an existing installation option.

5. On the Installation Type page make sure “New installation or add shared features” option is selected and then click Next.

6. On the License Terms page enable the “I accept the license terms” option and then click Next.

7. On the Feature Selection page make sure the “Management Tools – Basic” option is enabled and then click Next.

8. On the Error Reporting page click Next.

9. Once the installation completes click Close.