Upgrade MS SQL Server 2000 to MS SQL Server 2008

Upgrading a MS SQL Server 2000 Database to MS SQL Server 2008

Problem
I had several databases running on different versions of SQL Server 2000 (Developer & MSDE), on 32 bit Windows XP machines. I wanted to migrate the databases to a 64 bit Windows 7 machine. MSDE 2000 would not install. I didn't want to have to run XP in a virtual machine and I didn't want to pay for SQL Server 2008.

Solution
1) Install "MS SQL Server 2008 Express With Tools"
2) Create a backup of the database on SQL Server 2000 (I used Enterprise Manager)
3) Restore the database on SQL Server 2008 (I used Server Management Studio)

It was that simple!

I wasted a full day researching and trialling possible migration paths with varying success.

Please comment if you have any questions or if you found this info at all useful.

Cheers

Tez