Upgrade SQL Server Express instance to SQL Server Enterprise

For one of my SharePoint 2010 VMs, I wanted to upgrade one of the SQL Server Express Edition instances to SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition. Since my VM already had SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition installed, I only needed to go through the following steps to upgrade the specific instance.

When reviewing the properties of the instance with SQL Server Management Studio, it showed the Product version as SQL Server Express Edition.

Start the Upgrade Process

• In the Start menu, under Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, open the SQL Server Installation Center in the Configuration Tools folder.

• Then, under Installation, click Upgrade from SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008.

Install the Setup Support Files

• You may be prompted to browse for the SQL Server 2008 R2 installation media to install the Setup Support files. In my case, I mounted the ISO.

• Make sure the Setup Support Rules pass before continuing on.

• Run the install.

Upgrade the Express Instance

• After the install is complete, you can now continue with the process to upgrade the Express instance.
• Again, make sure the Setup Support Rules all pass before continuing on.

• The setup should find your existing product key. If not, enter it now.

• Accept the License Terms.

• Next, select the SQL instance to upgrade. In my case, the name of the Express instance was "SHAREPOINT".

• The installer will preselect the features to be upgraded in the instance.

• Verify the Instance ID and root directory, and continue on.

• Verify you have enough drive space, and click Next.

• Decide if you want to turn on error reporting, and click Next.

• Verify the Upgrade Rules all pass before continuing on.

• The installer will provide a summary of the upgrade actions. Click Upgrade.

• After the installer finishing the upgrade, it will provide a confirmation page that the instance was successfully upgraded.

• When reviewing the properties of the SQL instance in the SQL Server Management Studio, it will now show that it has been upgraded to SQL Server Enterprise Edition.

• This provided the opportunity to upgrade SQL Server to the latest SP and Cumulative Update level. These can be downloaded from the Update Center for Microsoft SQL Server.
• After running the updates, you can also see the instance's build version through the SQL Server Management Studio.

• In my case, I upgraded to build 10.50.2806, which is Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 1 and Cumulative Update 5.

After these steps, I ran the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard to bring everything up to date.