SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio – Evaluation Period Expired Fix

sql-server-2008sql-server-2008-r2ssms

I've spent several hours trying to fix this issue so far with no success. I had installed SQL Server 2008 Evaluation Edition. Out of fear it might expire & create problems for me I installed SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition & migrated all my databases to Express. It worked fine for several months but now I have problems when I try to launch Management Studio:

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I have tried the fixes in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971268 but they didn't help.

I am not able to understand even after uninstalling the SQL Server 2008 Evaluation Edition why I am getting error with the Express Edition.

I even installed new instance of SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition, uninstalled SSMS 2008 Express & re-installed it still nothing seems to work for me.

Upgrade screen of installation:

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Present status of my system

  1. I have two instances of sql server 2008 r2 express edition
  2. SSMS 2008 express edition

I am not sure what else to do.

Best Answer

You've already I assume, applied the registry fix suggested by Microsoft.

Since they are saying that this has been resolved since SP1, have you considered installing a newer version of SQL Server 2008 R2 Express?

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26729

Update 12:27

Based on what you're saying and without having your system in front of me, I'd try to find out if the evaluation edition you think you removed might actually still be there.

You can run the SQL Server features discovery report to find out what components are actually installed on your laptop.

Start -> All Programs -> SQL Server 2008 -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server Installation Center. Then on the left you select Tools, and then click on the Installed SQL Server features discovery report.

Installation Center - Tools

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Features Report

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I would also go Control Panel, Uninstall Programs, and make sure there wasn't anything left over from the evaluation edition. Once you're absolutely sure that evaluation is gone, reboot the system just to make sure that the registry is reloaded correctly.

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