sql-server-express
My SQL Server 2014 Express database has reached database size limit.
What is the quickest solution to get back up and running? Is Express software the same as the full version, with just some limitations, or is it a complete different software?
i.e. Can I just go to Microsoft store online, order a key for full version, and type it in to the current Express to activate full features, or do I need to do full uninstall of Express, reinstall of full version, copy database and such?
I finally found the cause of my problem!
I tried for months to track down the issue, but finally gave up, disabled automatic change tracking, just manually initiated incremental population and moved on with my life.
Meanwhile, there had been another nagging error that I was having trouble tracking down. Periodically the website would throw a DB connection error:
Cannot open database "XXXX" requested by the login. The login failed. Login failed for user 'XXXX'.
It turned out that both of these problems had the same solution. All I had to do is turn off a database setting called Auto Close. To do this, just right-click the database and click properties. In the properties window select Options and set "Auto Close" to false.
As soon as I disabled Auto Close, my DB login issues went away and the automatic change tracking worked perfectly.
Thanks again for everyone's help. I appreciate it!
Okay i resolved the issue!
Repairing the instance didn't help in the first place, as also no instance was found.
The reason was that the Bootstrapper folder wasn't matching the current installation of the SQL Server. The errors of the log files posted above were already pointing in this direction.
Finally i just made a backup of the bootstrapper folder and used
the bootstrapper folder of one of the 2 other machines
where the upgrade did work in the first place.
Now i was able to choose the instance while upgrading and everything worked as expected.
p.s.:
I only tried the Repair-Instance feature while pointing to the installation files of the standard version.
Could this possible be the reason why the instance was not shown?
Best Answer
Correct solution would be to upgrade it to version which does not have limitation on data file like developer, Standard and Enterprise depending on your requirement. If there is space in your database try shrinking it and see if that helps. But this is temporary solution in no matter of time you would again face space issue.
No its is not same as full version there are many differences and all is documented in Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2014.
You can perform an in place upgrade,you don't need to uninstall the express edition. Please see Supported Version and Editon Upgrade. You need license key mostly its embedded in new installation setup you get.