Downgrade Install Plan

We are upgrading an application that is not yet supported on SQL Server 2005. The upgrade involves new hardware (including a new sql server). Any gotchas or advice regarding this plan:

1. Install Windows 2003 64 bit, configure hardware appropriately for running SQL Server.

2. Install SQL Server 2000 64 bit using the 2005 license key (is that how you 'downgrade'? I didn't see a 'how-to' article regarding this).

3. Restore backups of system databases from current SQL Server to new SQL Server (note: current SQL Server is running 32 bit - I realize that I need to make sure that I have the same service pack on the new server as that on the current server).

4. Apply sp4.

5. Restore user databases.

Not sure if the 32 vs. 64 bit thing is of any concern or if 'downgrading' is as simple as this.

Thanks!

Michelle

1. What is the version of current SQL Server? SQL Server 2005 requires SP1 for Windows 2003 Enterprise Edittion on x64 machines.

2. I do not think you can install SQL Server 2000 with SQL Server 2005 product key.

The following issues are clear.

1. SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 can be installed side by side successfully.

2. 32-bit SQL Server 2000/2005 can be installed side by side successfully on x64 machines.

3. 32-bit SQL Server 2005 and 64-bit SQL Server 2005 can be installed successfully on x64 machines.

|||I did talk to our Microsoft Solution Specialist and he explained that we should already have the required license and media to install SQL Server 2000 with our most recent media kit shipment. I don't think that I will be prompted for a license key at all.
I'm hoping that the server admin team will be finished with the hardware/os in the next couple of days so that I can start on my portion. I'll document any issues that I have.
Thanks,
Michelle
|||

Michelle,

Did you have any problems with your original installation plan? We are trying to do the same installation and it is unclear how to install 2000 with 2005 disks and keys. There is no prompting on install.

|||I did not have any problems but in hindsight had wished that I had installed SQL Server 2005 as the default instance and 2000 as a named instance. I believe that this would have made the upgrade to 2005 simpler. We have since built other machines this way.