Can't upgrade sql express 2005 to sql express 2008

I have never tried an upgrade on a sql server, and this first attempt is
going nowhere.

What already installed:
- sql server 2005 as instance sqlexpress
- sql server 2008 developer as instance sqlserver

I want to upgrade the 2005 express to 2008 express. I start with
SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe because this is 64 bit windows 7.

After selecting the upgrade option from the screen it checks around and
then presents an error "there are no features selected for upgrade"

I read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955399 and it seems to think that
some previous install attempt failed. None have. So what do I do?

mat (mat@notarealdotcom.adr) writes:
> I have never tried an upgrade on a sql server, and this first attempt is
> going nowhere.
>
> What already installed:
> - sql server 2005 as instance sqlexpress
> - sql server 2008 developer as instance sqlserver
>
> I want to upgrade the 2005 express to 2008 express. I start with
> SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe because this is 64 bit windows 7.
>
> After selecting the upgrade option from the screen it checks around and
> then presents an error "there are no features selected for upgrade"
>
> I read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955399 and it seems to think that
> some previous install attempt failed. None have. So what do I do?

You cannot upgrade a 32-bit instance to 64-bit, see
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143393.aspx for supported upgrade
scenarios. (This page is for R2; I was too lazy to find the corresponding
page for SQL 2008 R1.)

You can install a new instance, and the use BACKUP/RESTORE to copy the
databases to the new instance.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel.TakeThisOut@sommarskog.se

Links for SQL Server Books Online:
SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx
SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx