Some of the customers I visited lately, told me the that the SQL Server 2005 Hands-on Lab found in the Beta 2 Kit has expired. Well ... the good news is that there is a fix available on http://msdn.microsoft.com/SQL/2005/2005Labs/holupgrade.aspx. The only requirement to apply this fix successfully is a retail license of Windows Server 2003.
Upgrading Your Expired HOL Installation
You will be booting into safe-mode to upgrade the Windows installation from an evaluation copy to a retail copy. Note that if you have a retail key (an MSDN license, for example) that requires activation, you'll have to do that immediately after the upgrade is complete; there will be no grace period.
- Start the image and during the boot sequence press F8 to enter Safe Mode.
- Log into Windows.
- Load your CD or ISO image (ISO is much faster) for Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (Retail or Volume License Key).
- When the Windows Setup Wizard starts choose "Upgrade (Recommended)".
- Enter the product key if you are using a Retail or MSDN version of Windows.
- When the Setup Wizard asks, click No to decline downloading updated setup files.
- Click Next past any QFE warning message.
- Once setup is complete, you will need to activate Windows when you login. Note: it is possible your mouse will not continue to work. If this occurs, uninstall and then reinstall VPC additions from your VPC install media.
- Run Windows Update to reapply all patches. Also, you should install your own anti-virus client at this time.