SQL Server 2012 to 2019 upgrade help

[jstatham]

I have a product that is currently running SQL Express 2012 with approx. 2500 users.  I am in the process of upgrading sqlexpress 2012 to 2019 and looking for help/suggestions on how to make it work.  Here are the 2 different scenarios.

1. Product is currently installed and my 2012 instance exists.  I then need to pass the upgrade parameter to the sqlexpress install and upgrade to 2019.  I hope to do this with a prerequisite.

2. Product not installed and need to load sqlexpress 2019 fresh with my instance name.

I guess what I am asking is there a 2019 SQL Express Prerequisite available anywhere?  If so can I use the same Prerequisite for both scenarios or do I need to create 2 different one.  Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Jenifer]

Hi @jstatham ,

I dont think you could achieve both upgrade & fresh installation scenario via Pre-requisite path.Hence it can be primarily used for installation based on various conditions.Here is what you can do:

• Add a custom action that could uninstall installed SQL 2012 Express based on condition if any which can be via  Batch script or installscript custom action.You can add setup.exe command line to uninstall instance using LaunchAppAndWait function for an example.
• Below link can help more with uninstallation command line parameters
  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-from-the-command-prompt?view=sql-server-ver15#Uninstall 
• Use Pre-requisite to install fresh SQL Express 2019 instance using conditions to validate existence.Below link can help more with installation command line parameters:
  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-from-the-command-prompt?view=sql-server-ver15#Install

Hope it helps,

Thanks,

Jenifer

[jstatham]

I don't need to uninstall if 2012 exists. i just need to pass a different command line parameter to the sqlserver setup. Do you know if there is a prerequisite for sqlexpress 2019 that I can download.

[Jenifer]

Hi @jstatham ,

InstallShield 2020 has SQL Server 2019 Express LocalDB pre-requisite integrated with it.Which version of InstallShield you are using?If you have previous version,you can edit the .prq  of SQL Server Express 2016/2017 to have updated msi file to be run and registry detection condition to get that working.

Thanks,

Jenifer

[jstatham]

I am running install shield 2020.  I need a prerequisite for SQL Express 2019. I don't see anything higher than Express 14 in the Prerequisites i have downloaded. Anything you can send me that will help would be greatly appreciated.

[Jenifer]

Hi @jstatham ,

Can you check in [PROGRAMFILES]InstallShield\2020\SetupPrerequisites folder for SQL Server 2019 express LocalDB.prq file?Else please check the attached one,rename it to .prq(File extension limitation in community for .prq format)

Thanks,

Jenifer

[jstatham]

I have that but I need a Prerequisite for full blown SQL EXPRESS 2019.

[jstatham]

Any update?

[Jenifer]

Hi @jstatham ,

Going further editing/creating pre-requisite,you can try doing yourself.

Steps to follow:

• Create prq from any template of SQL Express pre-requisite
• Edit the install registry condition which you could easily find online
• Update the physical exe if you could download & keep into folder else download-able link
• Important thing would be command-line parameters,that too i had already shared a link which Microsoft updates periodically on every release.Sample Install command line for SQL Server 2019 would be:

setup.exe /Q /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /ACTION="install" /PID="AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC-DDDDD-EEEEE" /FEATURES=SQL,AS,IS,Tools /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /SQLSVCACCOUNT="MyDomain\MyAccount" /SQLSVCPASSWORD="************" /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="MyDomain\MyAccount " /AGTSVCACCOUNT="MyDomain\MyAccount" /AGTSVCPASSWORD="************" /ASSVCACCOUNT="MyDomain\MyAccount" /ASSVCPASSWORD="************" /ISSVCAccount="MyDomain\MyAccount" /ISSVCPASSWORD="************" /ASSYSADMINACCOUNTS="MyDomain\MyAccount"

Reference link:https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-from-the-command-prompt?view=sql-server-ver15

I am attaching SQL Server 2019 Express for your reference,please consider this as template going further

Thanks,

Jenifer