Upgrade or install a Microsoft SQL Server instance

Discontinued support for SQL Server 2014

No support for errors opening SQL-based applications in SQL Server 2014 or earlier.
No support for installing, uninstalling, or re-installing SQL-based applications in SQL Server 2014 or earlier.
No support for any application issue that may be affected by SQL Server 2014 or earlier. In these cases, our support experts will make the determination about whether the SQL Server version is affecting the application and whether updating is an appropriate troubleshooting step.

You can't retrieve application updates. This means no fixes for known issues, no new application features, and no compliance updates.
You won't be able to integrate with other CS Professional Suite applications.
You won't receive security performance enhancements.

Find out your SQL Server version and edition

Back up your data

Create a backup folder and a database restore folder.
Have all staff close the application. Staff will not be able to access the application while the SQL Server update is happening.
Open the application and select
File
, then
Backup
.
In the
Backup file
field, go to the location of the backup folder you created in step 1.
Select
OK
.
If you're installing the new SQL Server instance on a different machine, copy all backup files from the backup folder to the restore folder.

Update to a supported version of SQL Server with the application installer

Make sure that you have the latest Accounting CS, Workpapers CS, or Practice CS web download. The default location for the folder is the C: drive of the machine where the download last happened. If you don’t have the latest version, go to the My Product Downloads page and download it.
Use an account with full administrative rights to sign in to the machine where the new SQL Server instance will be installed.
Go to the Accounting CS, Workpapers CS, or Practice CS web download location and run Setup.exe.
Perform
Step 1: Select where the Shared Files reside
.
Perform
Step 2: Configure Database Server
, even if there's already a green checkmark. After you select Step 2:
If you want to use an existing SQL Server instance that was separately upgraded or installed, select
Use an existing instance of Microsoft SQL Server
. On the next window, select your SQL Server instance and select to
Connect using Windows authentication
. If you're prompted about selecting a different instance than what was previously selected, select
Yes
to proceed.
If you want to create a new SQL Server instance, select
Install a new instance of Microsoft SQL Server 20yy Express Edition
. When prompted, enter a name for the new SQL Server instance. We recommend naming this instance SQLEXPRESS20yy (such as SQLEXPRESS2022) and keeping the default location for the SQL Server Data Folder.
Perform
Step 3: Install
on this computer. Your program will now be running on a supported version of SQL server and no further action is required.

Update to a supported version of SQL Server outside of the application installer

Upgrading an existing instance of SQL Server

Select
Installation
on the left and then
Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server
.
At the next screen, the installer will search for any product updates. Select
Next
.
At the
License Terms
screen, select the
I accept the license terms
box and select
Next
.
The
Select Instance
screen will list any existing instances and let you select which instance to upgrade. Select the instance you want to upgrade and select
Next
.
The installer will automatically upgrade the instance, leaving you with the same features installed with the original instance.
Review the
Upgrade Rules
screen for any rules that failed. If you have any failed messages, select the
Failed
link for instructions on how to resolve the issue.
The installer will then complete the upgrade process. Your program will now be running on a supported version of SQL server and no further action is required.

Installing a new instance of SQL Server

Select
Installation
on the left, and then
New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation
.
At the next screen, the installer will search for any product updates. Select
Next
.
At the
Installation Type
screen, select
Perform a new installation of SQL Server
and select
Next
.
At the
License Terms
screen, select the
I accept the license terms
box and select
Next
.
At the
Azure Extension for SQL Server
screen, clear the
Azure Extension for SQL Server
checkbox and select
Next
.
At the
Feature Selection
screen, select
Select All
and select
Next
.
At the
Instance Configuration
screen, select
Named instance
and enter a name for your new instance.
At the
Server Configuration
screen, make sure the default selections for the
Account Name
and
Startup Type
for each service are correct.
At the
Database Engine Configuration
screen, select
Mixed Mode
.
Enter and confirm a SQL Server administrator password and select
Next
.
The installation will complete.
Go to
Start
,
All Programs
,
Microsoft SQL Server
,
Configuration Tools
, and then
SQL Server Configuration Manager
.
Expand SQL Server Network Configuration and select Protocols for INSTANCE (where INSTANCE is the name of the SQL Server instance) to confirm or turn on the correct protocols (for Shared Memory, Named Pipes and TCP/IP).
Run Step 2 of the appropriate application's installer in order to connect to the new instance and create the required user account. Your program will now be running on a supported version of SQL server and no further action is required.

Disabling old versions of SQL Server

Open the
Run
window at the machine where the SQL Server instance resides. You can do this by accessing the Start menu and searching for Run, or by pressing the Windows key + R.
In the
Run
window, enter
services.msc
and select
OK
.
In the list of services, locate any services that include the name of the prior instance of SQL Server. Look for
SQL Server (INSTANCE)
and
SQL Server Agent (INSTANCE)
, where INSTANCE is the name of the SQL Server instance.
Double-click each item you found to open its
Properties
window.
On the General tab, if the
Service status
indicates that the instance is
Started
or
Running
, select
Stop
and wait for the
Service status
to change to
Stopped
.
In the
Startup type
field, select
Disabled
.
Select
OK
to save your changes.