XPost: microsoft.public.sqlserver.programming   
   From: genew@ocis.net   
      
   Dear SQLers:   
      
        Here is something that I have not seen addressed in anything I   
   have read.  How does one handle changing versions?   
      
        It turns out that my opposite number and I installed different   
   versions of SQL Server 2008 Express.  He has R2 and I have "" (R1?).   
   My system is a sacrificial goat so I can blow away SQL Server any time   
   I want.  But what of a production environment?   
      
        Suppose that there is an existing installation of SSE.  Call it   
   OLD.  We wish to install a new version.  Call that one NEW.  It would   
   be irresponsible to blow away OLD, install NEW, and hope that it all   
   works.  We would like to be able to test that NEW does work with our   
   existing databases before taking out OLD.   
      
        When we have completed this, how do we do a switchover so that   
   whatever was pointing to OLD is now pointing to NEW?  Is it possible   
   to rename an instance?  What questions should I be asking here?   
      
   Sincerely,   
      
   Gene Wirchenko   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)