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Upgrade to SQL Server 2005 Express

Find out about upgrading from MSDE 2000 to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Download SQL Server 2005 Express for Free

"SQL Server 2005 Express delivers optimal performance to our customers and they benefit from its ease of administration."
- Eric Musser, Pivotal Software

Download SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and upgrade your MSDE applications to take advantage of new SQL Server 2005 features.

Important Note: Mainstream support for MSDE ends two years after the release of SQL Server 2005, in accordance with standard Microsoft lifecycle policies.

Reasons to Upgrade MSDE to SQL Server 2005 Express

Upgrading from Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition lets your organization:

  • Deliver high performing applications because the MSDE workload governor is not in SQL Express.

  • Handle more demanding workloads with a larger maximum database size of 4 GB.

  • Improve time to market by increasing developer productivity through tight integration with Visual Studio.

  • Deliver more value in your applications through embedded reporting with SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services built-in to SQL Express.

  • Synchronize data seamlessly with SQL Server Workgroup Edition or higher using SQL Service Broker or Replication client.

  • Ease management of SQL Server Express with SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Express, a free, integrated management tool, rather than having to build custom tools for database management and administration.

  • Redistribute SQL Server 2005 Express Edition free with your applications.

  • Take advantage of security improvements such as secure by default settings and native database encryption.

SQL Server 2005 Express Upgrade White Paper

Read the Upgrading MSDE 2000 to SQL Server 2005 Express white paper on TechNet for technical upgrade information.

SQL Server 2005 Express Features

For an overview of the features in SQL Server Express, see the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Feature Tour. For more information about features in SQL Server Express, visit the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Features page.

Redistributing SQL Server Express

To register to redistribute SQL Server Express, visit the SQL Server Express Edition Redistribution Rights registration page.

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