Upgrading your SQL Server 2014 Evaluation to Full Version

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I installed Microsoft SQL Server 2014 a couple of months before on my PC, but now I suddenly found that the evaluation period has expired and a message appears when I try to open SQL Server Management Studio:

Evaluation period has expired. For information on how to upgrade your evaluation software please go to http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy. I seem to find a easy solution to this problem.

The outcome that I wanted to achieve here was to upgrade the existing SQL Server instance.image
The procedure to do this upgrade is as per the steps below:

1. Run SQL Server setup from the installation media, and SQL Server Installation Center.
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2. On the SQL Server Installation Center, click on Maintenance (left side), and then click on Edition Upgrade.
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3. Continue setup until you reach the <Product Key> stage. Now, insert the license key for the corresponding edition you are upgrading to.image

4: Accept the license terms.

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5. Specify the instance of SQL Server to modify.

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6. Verify the SQL Server 2014 features that will be changed and then press <Upgrade> option.image

7. Do not lose your patience at this stage here since you might just have to wait for a couple of minutes without having to do anything but to wait for the next screen to appear. (I nearly aborted this process at this stage when I felt like it was not happening as expected. Winking smile)image

8. Finally, you will reach <Complete> stage, where the screen appears as per below.image

I hope this was helpful. Comments and feedbacks are welcome.

Public Cloud Consultant | Microsoft MVP | Solutions Specialist (Azure) | Azure Certified | Microsoft Certified Trainer A decade more experience working across various Microsoft products, programs, projects & technologies. Experience leading CoE (Centers of Excellence) for Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 & Power Platform among others. Enabler in customer's hybrid cloud, cloud assessment, migration and modernization journey.

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