We updated our SQL Express software from 2005 to 2012 and it is working fine.  We have successfully mounted the database using SQL Server 2012 Management Studio Express.  However, it appears the database we are using is still in 2005 format and is still affected by the 4GB size limit.

How do you upgrade the database file itself from 2005 to 2012?

1) database in single user mode
ALTER DATABASE DBNAME SET MULTI_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
2) change compatibility version to 110
ALTER DATABASE database_name 
SET COMPATIBILITY_LEVEL = 110 

I don't understand your answer.

This is for SQL Server 2012 Express.

However, it appears the database we are using is still in 2005 format and is still affected by the 4GB size limit.

How do you upgrade the database file itself from 2005 to 2012?

When you say it *appears* what do you mean by that. How did you find out its still 2005 ?

You need to change compatibility level of all databases to 110.

When you migrate/upgrade  database to 2012 the database gets upgraded provided you did it correctly and it did not gave any error messages. As of now since your DB resides in 2012 IT IS UPGRADED. So no need to worry just change compatibility level to 110

I ran this command and it says 2005 even though the database is running in 2012 and the database ran out of space after reaching 4GB.

Select @@version

• Edited by MyGposts 23 minutes ago

I ran this command and it says 2005 even though the database is running in 2012 and the database ran out of space after reaching 4GB.

Select @@version

• Edited by MyGposts Tuesday, September 01, 2015 6:44 AM

I ran this command and it says 2005 even though the database is running in 2012 and the database ran out of space after reaching 4GB.

Select @@version

It means you have multiple instance or you did not upgraded correctly.

Can you run discovery report and post output here

You can safely ignore this nonsense.

I tried upgrading through the GUI and there is no option to upgrade compatibility past 90.

• Edited by MyGposts 12 hours 48 minutes ago

I tried upgrading through the GUI and there is no option to upgrade compatibility past 90.

As I suspected you have only installed SSMS 2012. YOu need to download SQl Server 2012 express db engine and connect it using 2012 SSMS . Y0u need to download below and install it

ENU\x64\SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe

I think it was already downloaded.

Is this it and do I just click "Upgrade from SQL Server 2005" and follow the prompts?

I would probably make a clean installation of SQL Server Express 2012 and keep SQL Server 2005 Express installed for now. Only once you installed the 2012 version, migrated your databases, re-pointed your applications and make sure all is working correctly, then you may uninstall 200

I need to make sure that permissions or anything that was changed from defaults in the existing database configuration is not lost.

I need more specific information on how to move the database into a clean install and still have it work as it did before.

1. Make backups of all your databases first (including system databases).

2. Test these backups

3. Install SQL Server Express 2012 with Advanced Tools.

4. Restore your databases on SQL Server Express 2012

5. Change compatibility level of your databases to the SQL Server 2012 version.

6. Update connection strings in your applications to point to that new server

7. Test all the applications that used to work with SQL 2005.

8. Keep SQL Server Express 2005 for at least 2 months so you can switch between versions and compare

9. Once you see that everything is working correctly, you can uninstall SQL Server 2005 Express.

In General please follow the below steps before starting migration....  and decide which method are you going to use... inplace or side by side...

http://blogs.technet.com/b/francesco_diaz/archive/2008/12/16/in-place-vs-side-by-side-upgrade.aspx

1. Run upgrade adviser on the databases for the instance you want to upgrade.
2. If any issues are found, talk to your dev team/ Vendor for fixing the same.
3. If issues are fixed proceed with the actual upgrade. -- Do check for the other dependencies on the database which might effect the functionality if the instance gets upgraded or something like that.
4. Get the downtime for the database.
5. Create the latest full backup of the database -- any other strategy will also work, just make sure you can recover the database.
6. Take a clone of the server if it's a virtual server to roll back any changes.
7. Run the upgrade on the sql 2005 instance from the 2012 set up. -- do check the pre-requirements for upgrade to sql 2012.
8. If everything is fine then you have an upgraded instance.
9. Also check the compatibility of the databases.
10. If all is fine then congrats you have upgraded your sql server instance.

Supported versions :--

did you checked your sql 2005 service pack ?

SQL Server 2012 supports upgrade from the following versions of SQL Server:

• SQL Server 2005 SP4 or later

• SQL Server 2008 SP2 or later

• SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 or later

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143393%28v=sql.110%29.aspx