I'm in a bit of a wacky situation. I have not shut the server off (it runs
in my garage 24X7) in the nearly 9 years that it has been there. I am
actually afraid to shut it off, for fear that it will not start up again. I
have not upgraded it in that time, and as far as I know, it is just a Windows
NT Server circa 1998/1999 (pre 2003 version).

It is fully licensed, but today I went to the storage facility to look for
the Server CD and could not find it, nor could I find a CD or diskettes for
MS SQL (is it separate from the server CD?). I think I may have brought home
the server CD and mislaid it 9 years ago, but I do not remember ever seeing
the MS SQL CD (I am not the former IT person).

My problem is this. Because it has been running like this all these years
in the garage with the 115 degree summer heat and dust, I am terribly afraid
that it will just up and die pretty soon. I have almost everything I need
off of it backed up on another hard drive, with the exception of the
accounting software.

It has Solomon IV (formerly MS product) running on the server. I still have
to do monthly accounting and do not know what I would do if the server died,
as Solomon only runs on the server. The data alone will not be much good to
me in the event of the server's death.

Trying to be a good girl scout here, I thought of putting MS SQL 6.5 (7.0
upgrade) on a fresh XP Pro install. I know I cannot just copy the 6.5 and 7.0
upgrade across to the XP box and expect it to work. But I did copy it over
nonetheless. Within the 6.5 directory was a file called Setup.exe.

Running this file aborted with a message saying that I could not install 6.5
as I already have 7.0 installed. This is weird, as yes, I had tried via a
DOS prompt to do an install of 7.0 (I forget what commands I did), but when
that did not work, I restored an Acronis image that I made just prior to
trying to install. It cannot possibly know it was there, as Acronis does a
complete HD wipe before it reloads the image. (It took nearly 5 hours to do
the restore, as this box is USB 1.1 pushing 10G of data - yuck!)

So what is the secret with XP and SQL? I do not see it as a service, yet XP
thinks it is there. How can I get SQL working? I am pretty sure I can get
the Solomon IV part working once I get SQL going.

I'm pretty certain that our former IT guy registered the SQL with MS if it
required separate registration. How or who do I contact at MS to see if he
indeed did and what our S/N is along with getting another copy of 6.5 if need
be?

I really need help here guys. I am sorry this is so long winded, but there
are many variables involved. If I could get it working on my XP-P notebook, I
could finally turn off the server and rest easy knowing I won't be up the
proverbial creek.

Thanks for reading all this and any help,
Dobermann

I don't know whether to horrified or impressed that everything has worked so
well. <g>
And I'm not entirely sure I understand your situation, but here is a start.
- SQL Server has different CD's than Windows.
- Sorry, I don't know anything about Solomon IV
- These old versions of SQL Server should run on XP. It's not clear to me
if 6.5 or 7.0 is properly installed. If you don't see either of them in the
services applet, then probably not. And you should run setup from the CD to
install them. You might look in Add and remove programs to see if Windows
thinks one of them is installed.
- If you need CD's of SQL Server, the fastest way would probably to go to a
used bookstore/software store and see if they have some disks. 6.5 and 7.0
are now 4 and 5 versions behind so my guess is they might sell them for 5
bucks. If you upgrade to SQL Server 2000, 2005, or 2008 you will have to be
careful about which old version can be upgraded to your new version. I won't
go into that, since I'm guessing you probably don't want to spend any
significant money for the upgrade.
- There are two ways to upgrade. One is to have a working 6.5 and select
upgrade when you run the 7.0 install. The other is to install 7.0, and then
attach the 6.5 database files.
- Do you have recent backups stored on another computer, preferably at
another location? It sounds like this info is important to you so I sure
hope so.

I hope this helps.
--
Rick Byham, MSFT
(Implies no warranty or rights)


"Dobermann" <Dobermann (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

Hi Rick,

I say I am both - horrified and impressed, especially considering the
environment it is in.

I was afraid that it was going to be different CDs. I looked through all
the fireproof files in storage where all the other diskettes & CDs seem to be
stored, but to no avail.

I checked both the add/remove and services, but it is not in either. Is
there some way from the server that I can retrieve our CD Key info? If yes,
would you please be a little specific, as I am not really super familiar with
it (which makes it even more amazing that I have been able to keep it
running...). I am asking, as if I am able to find the CD, I imagine it might
not come with the key info. And you are right - I do not want to spend any
money upgrading. But your used bookstore/software store might be the ticket.

Okay, I know you have to be sitting down at this point. Backups... Yes, I
do have backups of the data files and the solomon pgm files on another
computer (I keep that one in my closet in the house). I built it about 7
years ago and used to overclock it, but not anymore since I use it for my
backup. I wasn't going to be *that* daring!

Isn't there a free SQL Server, something open source, that I think I saw
some time ago? Or am I confused? I imagine if there is, I can always
download it and give it a go. Worst thing that could happen would be it
would not work and I would be back at restoring again.

I will make some phone calls tomorrow to see if a place nearby has a cheap
copy I can buy.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it!

Dobermann

"Rick Byham, MSFT" wrote:

Sorry I don't know of a way to recover the CD Key info.
And yes, there is a free version of SQL Server. It used to be called MSDE
(Microsoft Database Engine) and is now called SQL Server Express Edition.
They can be downloaded from the web.
SQL Server 7.0 MSDE
http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-S...-10030172.html
I'm not sure if this will install the product or just update it.
SQL Server 2000 MSDE
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
SQL Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
SQL Server 2008
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Again, if you upgrade, this page says you can upgrade from 6.5 or 7.0 to
2000. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...2(SQL.80).aspx
If you go to 2005 or 2008, I think you have to go to 2000 first.
--
Rick Byham, MSFT
(Implies no warranty or rights)


"Dobermann" <Dobermann (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

I'll give the free one a go. I did not have any luck finding a local store
with the CD. If the DL does not work, I guess I will be back looking for our
CD. I really do not want to go to a higher version than 7.0, as I know that
that version runs Solomon IV. The last thing I need is to create a bunch of
new problems trying to use a newer version with my old Solomon IV.

Thanks again ever so much for your help. I'll post a follow-up to report
back on how the freebie version went.

Dobermann
-

Well, the first link is really just SP4, not the full install, so I guess I
am doomed to spend some more hot time in the storage locker looking through
everything again.....

It was worth checking out, though.

Dobermann

I don't remember MSDE, but the SQL Server Express "service packs" are
actually the engine at that service pack level. You should try it before
abandoning it.

Oh wow, okay... I will definitely give it a go. Thanks!

Dobermann

Well, the SP4 was not a full install, so it did not work. I have spent more
time looking once again in the storage facility, but still to no avail. I
cannot seem to find a used software store that has 7.0 or 6.5, and on eBay
it's $100 - too much. Nothing here on Craigslist either. I tried the
Firebird SQL, but it did not work with Solomon (or maybe even my install).

I am rapidly hitting a brick wall.

I don't suppose anyone who reads this is in the Vegas area that we could
work out some sort of a deal to fix this situation for me, is there?? I
really need help....

Thanks,
Dobermann