How do I downgrade from SQL 2008 Std to 2005 Std?

Question

How do I downgrade from SQL 2008 Std to 2005 Std?

Pierre M. Camilleri

SSC Rookie

Points: 47
More actions
January 18, 2010 at 7:09 am

#219392

Hi everyone!
I currently have the SQL Server 2008 Std installation cd (1 processor license) and since our ERP software supports only SQL Server 2005 Std I was told I could do a downgrade installation. However I am not quite clear on this. How does one do a downgrade installation? Would I be prompted during the installation process to choose SQL Server 2005 Std?
Any help on this would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Pierre

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

Never heard of a downgrade option, I'd just uninstall SQL 2008 and install SQL 2005. Honestly, that portion is the least of your problems.

The biggest problem here is that there's no way to downgrade a database. Once a database has been attached to a SQL 2008 instance, it is a SQL 2008 database and cannot be attached or restored to a SLQ 2005 instance.

To get a database that has been attached to a SQL 2008 instance back onto SQL 2005 requires that you script out all the objects, export all the data and then recreate the database on SQL 2005.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Pierre M. Camilleri SSC Rookie Points: 47 More actions · Answer 2

I am preparing to do an installation from scratch, hence my post. All I have is the SQL Server 2008 Std cd. So how can I do an SQL Server 2005 Std installation using this cd? The reason we bought this cd was because the SQL Server 2005 cd is no longer being sold and I was told by that the supplier that I could downgrade it in order to install SQL Server 2005.

Thanks

Pierre

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 3

Pierre M. Camilleri (1/18/2010)
So how can I do an SQL Server 2005 Std installation using this cd?

You can't. If I recall (and this needs to be checked preferably with Microsoft), by buying a SQL 2008 licence, you have the option of instead installing SQL 2005, but that's purely a licensing thing, the 2005 installation media is not on the 2008 disks. I suggest you have another little chat with your supplier here.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 4

GilaMonster (1/18/2010)
Pierre M. Camilleri (1/18/2010)
So how can I do an SQL Server 2005 Std installation using this cd?
You can't. If I recall (and this needs to be checked preferably with Microsoft), by buying a SQL 2008 licence, you have the option of instead installing SQL 2005, but that's purely a licensing thing, the 2005 installation media is not on the 2008 disks. I suggest you have another little chat with your supplier here.

You will need to verify the options that you purchased. Some purchases of 2008 allowed for the install of 2005. That is something that would have been negotiated when you purchased SQL 2008.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736212 More actions · Answer 5

You'll have to get the 2005 media from somewhere. The "downgrade" is merely a "right" that the license has. You can buy a 2008 license and apply it to a 2005 instance, however no media is provided.

Roy Ernest SSC-Dedicated Points: 38780 More actions · Answer 6

Stupid question, Did you try setting the compatibility level to SQL 2005? Maybe that will solve the problem for the time being while you figure out rest of the things.

-Roy

Ninja's_RGR'us SSC Guru Points: 294069 More actions · Answer 7

It's s good idea, but usually the ERPs make a ton of use of system objects so that may be why 2008 is not supported at the moment.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 8

I have the feeling this is less of a case of it not working on SQL 2008 than it simply isn't supported on SQL 2008. So it might run on SQL 2008, but there would be no vendor support in the case of problems.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

sturner SSC-Insane Points: 22411 More actions · Answer 9

You could set up replication from the 2008 server to the 2005 server. Once everything is in sync, cut over the 2005 server. That should be able to be done without any real down time.

The probability of survival is inversely proportional to the angle of arrival.