How do I change the instance name in MS SQL 2005 without installing a new instance? I have an instance that really has nothing on it, it's merely been installed (it was intended for one project, but that never actually got done on this server, the project was done in duplicate on another server) so since I have the instance, I want to rename it.

Can this be done? How would I do so?



Further investigation (googling) says it's not really possible. Additional consultation with my coworkers says I might as well install a 2k8 instance and move on.
It's not possible.


  You need to reinstall it. There is no
  instance rename facility for the
  Database Engine.


http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/d5d297b0-2995-46ba-9d3b-d1ec8825f479