July 10, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Title pretty much says it all - can this be done? I've tried several paths and always come up against some failure in the installation process. I can install a new version of 2022 Express, but that means also porting all my logins and roles, as well as restoring every database. I would much prefer to upgrade in place, but I can't make any sense of the docs - some say possible, some say not.
July 10, 2026 at 6:41 pm
it can be done, but it will need a side-by-side install and db move !
Check the supported version scenarios in this MS article "Upgrades from earlier versions to SQL Server 2022"
Johan
Learn to play, play to learn !
Dont drive faster than your guardian angel can fly ...
but keeping both feet on the ground wont get you anywhere :w00t:
- How to post Performance Problems
- How to post data and code to get the best help
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press F1 for solution, press shift+F1 for urgent solution 😀
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July 10, 2026 at 10:50 pm
Sorry, I don't understand. I asked if it is possible to do an in-place upgrade. You say that it IS possible, but that I have to a side-by-side install and move the databases. That is NOT an in-place upgrade - that is the exact scenario I am trying to avoid - a new installation and migrating the databases. I want to upgrade the EXISTING installation. Do you know if I can do that, and if so, how?
July 12, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Read the article as mentioned.
Johan
Learn to play, play to learn !
Dont drive faster than your guardian angel can fly ...
but keeping both feet on the ground wont get you anywhere :w00t:
- How to post Performance Problems
- How to post data and code to get the best help
- How to prevent a sore throat after hours of presenting ppt
press F1 for solution, press shift+F1 for urgent solution 😀
Who am I ? Sometimes this is me but most of the time this is me
July 12, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Read the article as mentioned.
I did, before I even posted this question. One of the reasons for these forums is to clear up things that are not obvious from the documentation. If all you have to offer is 'RTFM', I'd appreciate you not wasting the bandwidth.
July 12, 2026 at 5:38 pm
all documentation is pretty clear - upgrade is possible, downgrade isn't (going from standard to express, even if newer version of sql, is a downgrade).
Downgrade an edition
To downgrade the edition of SQL Server, you must completely uninstall the SQL Server instance, and install it again with the desired edition setup media.
July 12, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Ah, okay - that's the piece I was missing. I didn't realize that going from an older version standard to a newer version Express is considered a downgrade. Thanks for clearing that up.
July 13, 2026 at 10:12 am
FWIW - I hope I don't waste more bandwidth -
Maybe doublecheck if Express Edition will be able to handle your db(s), load, ... and how you will replace SQLAgent if you are using it currently.
Johan
Learn to play, play to learn !
Dont drive faster than your guardian angel can fly ...
but keeping both feet on the ground wont get you anywhere :w00t:
- How to post Performance Problems
- How to post data and code to get the best help
- How to prevent a sore throat after hours of presenting ppt
press F1 for solution, press shift+F1 for urgent solution 😀
Who am I ? Sometimes this is me but most of the time this is me
July 13, 2026 at 11:26 am
From what you've described, it sounds like an in-place upgrade isn't supported in your setup, which is why the installation keeps failing. The most reliable option is to install SQL Server 2022 Express as a new instance and move your databases and logins over. If you can share the exact error message, it might be easier to see if there's another option.
July 13, 2026 at 7:35 pm
FWIW - I hope I don't waste more bandwidth - Maybe doublecheck if Express Edition will be able to handle your db(s), load, ... and how you will replace SQLAgent if you are using it currently.
Thank you, but it's a pretty light load. I ran it on Express for years, then the institution decided to spend some money, so I got the standard version. I'll see if I can get them to cough up again, but I'm not much of a persuader. We'll see. And no, I don't use Agent. It's a simple setup - around 70,000 records and 150,000 records in two primary linked tables, a few dozen aux tables, one application accessing it all, less than ten users, usually no more than half of those at any one time, and very relaxed response requirements. A Windows scheduled task for automatic backups, and me around to deal with the occasional special request sums it up. The only thing the Express version does not allow is parallelism, but very little of the workload even goes parallel anyway.
July 13, 2026 at 7:56 pm
From what you've described, it sounds like an in-place upgrade isn't supported in your setup, which is why the installation keeps failing. The most reliable option is to install SQL Server 2022 Express as a new instance and move your databases and logins over. If you can share the exact error message, it might be easier to see if there's another option.
I don't remember the exact message, just that it failed. But I think Frederico called it - downgrades are not supported and this would be a downgrade. I'll see if I can get admin to buy a standard version.
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