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WARNING: I am assuming you actually know your way around SQL Server. If you are not an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator, like me, then you should try this on a test server first until you are confident you know what you're doing or you should get a knowledgeable consultant to help you.

Step 1 - Captain Obviously, is to back up your databases. You can use SQL Server backup to do this.

Note: What you are going to do is irreversible. You cannot downgrade back to Express from Standard. Therefore, if this is a virtual machine, now would be a good time to take a check point. If this isn't a virtual machine, have your bare metal restore ready to go. I doubt seriously anything will go wrong as I've never had any bad experiences doing this, but better safe than sorry.

You will need the SQL Server Standard Edition DVD that represents the exact version of SQL Express that you have. While you can move up to SQL Server 2014 or 2016 Standard, Amazing Charts may not support it. You should also try to match up service pack levels. So if you have SQL Server 2012 Express Service Pack 3, you should install SQL Server 2012 Standard with Service Pack 3.

Once the setup program starts, go to the Maintenance section and click on Edition Upgrade. Follow the wizard to complete the upgrade.



Once done, test to make sure AC still works. After that, install all available patches on your SQL Server.

Good luck. You should be done in about half an hour or so.

JamesNT