SQL Server evaluation period has expired error: Your options and their pros and cons
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SQL Server evaluation period has expired crack
Introduction
SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft that provides intelligent performance, availability, security, and analytics for various data workloads. SQL Server has many features and benefits that make it a popular choice for businesses and developers who need to store, process, and analyze large amounts of data.
Sql Server Evaluation Period Has Expired Crack
However, SQL Server is not free software. It comes in different editions and versions that have different prices and licensing options. Some people may want to try out SQL Server before buying it, or use it for a short-term project or test environment. For this purpose, Microsoft offers an evaluation edition of SQL Server that allows users to use all the features of the enterprise edition for free for a limited time.
But what happens when the evaluation period expires? How can you fix the error and continue using SQL Server? Is there a way to use a crack version of SQL Server to bypass the expiration date? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will explain what is SQL Server evaluation edition, what happens when it expires, and how to fix the error by upgrading to a licensed version, moving to an express edition, or using a crack version. We will also discuss the pros and cons of each option, and provide some recommendations on how to choose the best one for your needs.
What is SQL Server evaluation edition?
Definition and purpose
SQL Server evaluation edition is a free trial version of SQL Server that allows users to test and evaluate all the features and capabilities of the enterprise edition for a limited time. The enterprise edition is the most advanced and comprehensive edition of SQL Server that offers the highest level of performance, availability, security, and analytics for mission-critical applications and data warehouses.
The purpose of SQL Server evaluation edition is to let users experience the full potential of SQL Server and decide whether they want to purchase a license for it or not. It is also useful for developers, testers, consultants, trainers, and students who need to use SQL Server for a short-term project or learning purpose.
The evaluation edition of SQL Server has the same functionality and behavior as the enterprise edition, except for some minor differences in licensing terms and conditions. For example, the evaluation edition cannot be used for production purposes, cannot be upgraded to another edition without a product key, and cannot be activated online.
What happens when SQL Server evaluation period expires?
Error messages and consequences
The evaluation period of SQL Server lasts for 180 days from the date of installation. After that, SQL Server will stop working and display an error message that says "SQL Server evaluation period has expired". This error message may appear when you try to start SQL Server service, connect to SQL Server instance, open SQL Server Management Studio, or run any query or command on SQL Server.
The consequences of SQL Server evaluation period expired error are serious and may affect your database and your applications that use it. When SQL Server stops working, you will not be able to access your data, perform any operation on your database, or use any feature or tool of SQL Server. Your database will be in an inconsistent state, and you may lose some data or transactions that were not committed before the expiration date. Your applications that rely on SQL Server will also fail or malfunction, and you may experience performance issues, errors, or crashes.
How to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error?
Upgrade to a licensed version
The best and most recommended way to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error is to upgrade to a licensed version of SQL Server. A licensed version of SQL Server will provide you with the full functionality, performance, security, and support of SQL Server, without any limitations or risks. You will also be able to use SQL Server for production purposes, upgrade to another edition or version, and activate SQL Server online.
To upgrade SQL Server evaluation edition to a licensed version, you need to have a valid product key or an online service activation key for the edition and version of SQL Server that you want to use. You can purchase a product key or an online service activation key from Microsoft or an authorized reseller. You can also use a product key or an online service activation key that you already have for another installation of SQL Server, as long as it is not in use or has not been activated before.
Once you have a product key or an online service activation key, you can use the SQL Server Installation Center or the SQL Server Setup Wizard to perform the upgrade. You can choose to perform an in-place upgrade, which will replace the evaluation edition with the licensed edition on the same server, or a side-by-side upgrade, which will install the licensed edition on a different server and allow you to migrate your data and settings from the evaluation edition. You can also use the command-line interface or the PowerShell cmdlets to perform the upgrade.
For more information on how to upgrade SQL Server evaluation edition to a licensed version, you can refer to these Microsoft resources:
Upgrade SQL Server
Upgrade to a Different Edition of SQL Server
Activate SQL Server
How to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error?
Move to an express edition
Another way to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error is to move to an express edition of SQL Server. SQL Server express edition is a free and lightweight version of SQL Server that can be used for small-scale applications and data solutions. It has the same core database engine as the other editions of SQL Server, but it has some limitations in terms of features, performance, scalability, and management.
Some of the limitations of SQL Server express edition are:
It supports up to 4 cores, 1 GB of memory, and 10 GB of database size per instance.
It does not include some advanced features such as SQL Server Agent, Analysis Services, Integration Services, Reporting Services, Machine Learning Services, etc.
It does not support some high availability and disaster recovery options such as Always On Availability Groups, Database Mirroring, Log Shipping, etc.
It does not support some security features such as Transparent Data Encryption, Always Encrypted, Row-Level Security, etc.
It does not support some performance and optimization features such as In-Memory OLTP, Columnstore Indexes, Query Store, etc.
To move from an enterprise evaluation edition to an express edition of SQL Server, you need to follow these steps:
Backup your user databases from the evaluation edition using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.
Uninstall the evaluation edition of SQL Server from your server using the Control Panel or the command-line interface.
Download and install the express edition of SQL Server from the Microsoft website or the Microsoft Download Center.
Restore your user databases to the express edition using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.
Configure your applications and settings to use the express edition of SQL Server.
For more information on how to move from an enterprise evaluation edition to an express edition of SQL Server, you can refer to these Microsoft resources:
SQL Server Express Editions
Backup and Restore of SQL Server Databases
Uninstall an Existing Instance of SQL Server
Install SQL Server Express
How to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error?
Use a crack version
The last and least recommended way to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error is to use a crack version of SQL Server. A crack version of SQL Server is a modified or hacked version of SQL Server that bypasses the expiration date and allows users to use SQL Server without a license or activation. A crack version of SQL Server may also include some additional features or tools that are not available in the official version of SQL Server.
The purpose of using a crack version of SQL Server is to avoid paying for a license or activation, and to use SQL Server for free indefinitely. Some people may also use a crack version of SQL Server for curiosity, experimentation, or learning purposes.
To use a crack version of SQL Server, you need to find and download a crack file or a patch file for the edition and version of SQL Server that you want to use. You can find these files on some websites, forums, blogs, or torrent sites that offer software cracks or hacks. You also need to follow the instructions on how to apply the crack or patch file to your installation of SQL Server.
However, using a crack version of SQL Server is illegal, unethical, and risky. It violates the Microsoft Software License Terms and Conditions, and may result in legal actions or penalties from Microsoft or other authorities. It also exposes your system and your data to various threats and dangers, such as:
Malware infection: The crack or patch file may contain viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, ransomware, or other malicious software that can harm your system, steal your data, encrypt your files, or display unwanted ads.
Data loss: The crack or patch file may corrupt your database, delete your data, or prevent you from accessing your data. You may also lose your data if you cannot backup or restore your database properly.
Performance issues: The crack or patch file may affect the performance of SQL Server, causing it to run slower, consume more resources, or crash frequently. You may also experience compatibility issues with other applications or tools that use SQL Server.
Legal issues: The crack or patch file may violate the intellectual property rights of Microsoft or other parties, and may expose you to lawsuits or fines. You may also lose the right to use any Microsoft products or services in the future.
Therefore, we strongly advise you not to use a crack version of SQL Server, and instead choose one of the other options that we have discussed in this article.
Conclusion
Summary and recommendations
In this article, we have explained what is SQL Server evaluation edition, what happens when it expires, and how to fix the error by upgrading to a licensed version, moving to an express edition, or using a crack version. We have also discussed the pros and cons of each option, and provided some recommendations on how to choose the best one for your needs.
Here is a summary of our main points:
SQL Server evaluation edition is a free trial version of SQL Server that allows users to test and evaluate all the features and capabilities of the enterprise edition for 180 days.
When SQL Server evaluation period expires, SQL Server will stop working and display an error message that says "SQL Server evaluation period has expired". This error will affect your database and your applications that use it.
The best and most recommended way to fix the error is to upgrade to a licensed version of SQL Server. A licensed version of SQL Server will provide you with the full functionality, performance, security, and support of SQL Server, without any limitations or risks.
Another way to fix the error is to move to an express edition of SQL Server. SQL Server express edition is a free and lightweight version of SQL Server that can be used for small-scale applications and data solutions. It has some limitations in terms of features, performance, scalability, and management.
The last and least recommended way to fix the error is to use a crack version of SQL Server. A crack version of SQL Server is a modified or hacked version of SQL Server that bypasses the expiration date and allows users to use SQL Server without a license or activation. It is illegal, unethical, and risky.
We hope that this article has helped you understand how to fix SQL Server evaluation period expired error. We suggest that you choose the option that best suits your needs and budget, and that you avoid using a crack version of SQL Server at all costs. If you have any questions or issues with SQL Server, you can contact Microsoft support for assistance.
FAQs
What is the difference between Windows Authentication mode and SQL Server Authentication mode?
Windows Authentication mode and SQL Server Authentication mode are two ways of authenticating and authorizing users and applications to access SQL Server. Windows Authentication mode uses the Windows credentials of the user or application to log in to SQL Server, while SQL Server Authentication mode uses a username and password that are defined in SQL Server.
The difference between the two modes are:
Windows Authentication mode is more secure, as it uses the Windows security features such as encryption, Kerberos, and Active Directory. SQL Server Authentication mode is less secure, as it relies on the password strength and protection.
Windows Authentication mode is easier to manage, as it does not require creating and maintaining separate login accounts and passwords for SQL Server. SQL Server Authentication mode is more complex to manage, as it requires creating and maintaining separate login accounts and passwords for SQL Server.
Windows Authentication mode is more compatible with other Microsoft products and services, such as Azure, SharePoint, Power BI, etc. SQL Server Authentication mode is more compatible with non-Microsoft products and services, such as Linux, Oracle, MySQL, etc.
FAQs
How can I check which edition and version of SQL Server I have installed?
You can check which edition and version of SQL Server you have installed by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL. SQL Server Management Studio is a graphical user interface tool that allows you to manage and administer SQL Server. Transact-SQL is a programming language that allows you to query and manipulate data in SQL Server.
To check the edition and version of SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio, you can follow these steps:
Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your SQL Server instance.
In the Object Explorer pane, right-click on your SQL Server instance and select Properties.
In the General page of the Server Properties dialog box, you can see the edition and version of your SQL Server instance under the Product section.
To check the edition and version of SQL Server by using Transact-SQL, you can run this command:
SELECT @@VERSION;
This command will return a string that contains the edition and version of your SQL Server instance, along with some other information such as the operating system, platform, service pack level, etc.
FAQs
How can I extend the SQL Server evaluation period?
There is no official way to extend the SQL Server evaluation period, as it is fixed at 180 days from the date of installation. However, there may be some unofficial methods that involve changing the system date or modifying the registry. These methods are not recommended or supported by Microsoft, and may cause problems or errors with SQL Server or other applications.
One of these methods is to change the system date of your server to a date before the expiration date of SQL Server evaluation edition. This may trick SQL Server into thinking that the evaluation period has not expired yet, and allow you to use SQL Server normally. However, this method may also affect other applications or services that rely on the system date, such as Windows Update, antivirus software, backup software, etc. It may also cause data inconsistency or corruption in your database, as the system date will not match the transaction date.
Another method is to modify the registry of your server to reset the expiration date of SQL Server evaluation edition. This may extend the evaluation period by another 180 days, and allow you to use SQL Server normally. However, this method may also cause problems or errors with SQL Server or other applications, as it may violate the Microsoft Software License Terms and Conditions, and may trigger some security or activation checks. It may also cause data inconsistency or corruption in your database, as the registry values will not match the actual installation date.
Therefore, we do not recommend using these methods to extend the SQL Server evaluation period, and instead suggest that you choose one of the other options that we have discussed in this article.
FAQs
How can I activate SQL Server without a product key?
There are two ways to activate SQL Server without a product key: using an online service activation key or using volume activation methods such as Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Key (MAK). These methods are only available for certain editions and versions of SQL Server that are purchased through volume licensing programs such as Microsoft Open License, Microsoft Select Plus, Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, etc.
An online service activation key is a unique code that is generated by Microsoft when you purchase a license for SQL Server through an online service such as Azure or Office 365. You can use this code to activate SQL Server on your server without entering a product key. You can also use this code to activate multiple instances of SQL Server on different servers, as long as you have enough licenses for them.
To activate SQL Server using an online service activation key, you need to follow these steps:
Purchase a license for SQL Server through an online service such as Azure or Office 365.
Obtain the online service activation key from the online service portal or email.
Use the SQL Server Installation Center or the SQL Server Setup Wizard to install or upgrade SQL Server on your server.
Select the option to enter an online service activation key when prompted for a product key.
Enter the online service activation key and complete the installation or upgrade process.
A volume activation method is a way of activating multiple instances of SQL Server on different servers by using a single product key or a centralized service. There are two types of volume activation methods: Key Management Service (KMS) and Multiple Activation Key (MAK). KMS is a service that runs on a server and activates other servers that request activation over the network. MAK is a product key that activates a specific number of servers over the internet or by phone.
To activate SQL Server using a volume activation method, you need to follow these steps:
Purchase a license for SQL Server through a v