How do I configure my SQL Server instance to use a different Edition with minimal side effects? I'm in the process of migrating an old server running Windows 2008 R2 with SQL 2012 Express to a new server running SQL Server 2017 Standard and Windows 2016. I would like to mirror databases between them, but the Express Edition doesn't support it. I tried to upgrade it to SQL 2012 Standard Evaluation, but I received the following error:


  Failed The selected SQL Server instance does not
  meet upgrade matrix requirements.


I discovered this isn't possible:
Upgrade SQL Server 2012 Express to Evaluation Edition

I was forced to install SQL Server 2012 Evaluation as a new side-by-side instance and named it ./SQLSERVER2. In order to use this instance, however, it would require moving a ton of data files and changing the instance names in all my configuration files. This will also require server downtime as well. This will be a major PITA without the humous and I want to avoid it if at all possible. 

Is there a way of reconfiguring ./SQLSERVER to use the Standard Evaluation Edition with minimal downtime and side-effects?
You could possibly follow these steps to &quot;migrate&quot; the databases to a &quot;new&quot; SQL Server 20xx instance.

detach the databases in the running SQL Server Express instance and leave them where they are.
Script out any logins that you require.
Don't delete/drop any databases.
De-install the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition.
Install the SQL Server 20xx Standard Edition. (you can even use the instance name SQLEXPRESS; how clever is that?)
Add the SQL Server Logins to your &quot;new&quot; SQL Server 20xx Standard Edition instance.
Once the &quot;new&quot; SQL Server 20xx Standard Edition is running attach the &quot;old&quot; databases to your new SQL Server 20xx instance.
Change the database compatibility level to 110 (if required).

Enjoy a &quot;new&quot; SQL Server 20xx Standard Edition instance hosting your &quot;old&quot; databases.