Upgrading the version from Evaluation to Standard/Enterprise/Developer version

For the people who are using evaluation version of Microsoft SQL Server, you will face the below problem after a certain period. While trying to access SSMS. You will get this error.

Evaluation period has expired. For information on how to upgrade your evaluation software please go to http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy (http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy)

There are two ways to fix the above error message:

1. Install Service Pack 1 before upgrading SQL Server 2008 evaluation edition to any licensed edition.
2. Modify Registry. Go to Start->Run->Regedit. In the Registry Editor, select the following keyHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\100\ConfigurationState and change the value of the Common Files REG_DWORD to 3 as shown in the figure below.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143393.aspx

After completing the registry changes, run the edition upgrade and you are done. For a list of supported version and Edition upgrades, check out the following:

You need to provide appropriate keys and install the software or upgrade the software successfully.

Cheers,
Venkatesan Prabu .J
Head, KaaShiv InfoTech
For free Ebook : http://kaashivinfotech.com/Ebooks.aspx