Knowledge Base

PRB: Changing Registry Key Causes Evaluation Copy Error MSG

Article ID: 203731

Article Last Modified on 10/3/2003

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q203731

SYMPTOMS

After changing the "Registered Owner" registry key for SQL Server version 6.5, the following error will be displayed:
Fatal Error
The evaluation period has expired for this evaluation version of SQL Server

CAUSE

This error results from changing the Registered Owner registry key value.

WORKAROUND

There are two ways to work around this problem:

MORE INFORMATION

To reproduce this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Install Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 or 7.0. When prompted for the Registered Owner Name use 'MS' without quotes.
  2. Use the Control Panel Services icon to stop the MSSQLServer service.
  3. Use Regedt32.exe to change the following registry key from 'MS' to 'TEST' (without quotes):

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\MSSQLSERVER\MSSQLSERVER\CURRENTVERSION\REGISTERED OWNER
  4. Restart the MSSQLServer service.

Additional query words: SBS SMALL BUISNESS SERVER EVALUATION PERIOD EXPIRED EXPIRES

Keywords: kbprb KB203731


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