Can't upgrade a SQL Express to SQL Standard

Question

I have a 64 bit SQL Server 2008 Express R2 installed and I cannot upgrade it to a fully licensed 2014 Standard. When I try to update to SP 4, I get this issue:

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If I try to run the upgrade edition, notice there is no "Instance Select" option for me to select my instance:

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However, I am able to connect and run to the database, and get the properties:

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So my question is, I'm able to use the existing SQL express instance, but I cannot upgrade the service pack or upgrade the edition. I'm at a loss here. Any thoughts? Below is the summary of the install log:

Overall summary:
 Final result: Passed
 Exit code (Decimal): 0
 Start time: 2015年08月11日 12:12:19
 End time: 2015年08月11日 12:19:27
 Requested action: EditionUpgrade
Machine Properties:
 Machine name: xxxxxxxx
 Machine processor count: 8
 OS version: Windows 8
 OS service pack: 
 OS region: United States
 OS language: English (United States)
 OS architecture: x64
 Process architecture: 64 Bit
 OS clustered: No
Product features discovered:
 Product Instance Instance ID Feature Language Edition Version Clustered Configured
 SQL Server 2008 R2 xxxxDBSERVER MSSQL10_50.xxxxxBSERVER Database Engine Services 1033 Express Edition 10.50.1600.1 No Yes 
 SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Tools - Basic 1033 Express Edition 10.50.1600.1 No Yes 
Package properties:
 Description: Microsoft SQL Server 2014 
 ProductName: SQL Server 2014
 Type: RTM
 Version: 12
 SPLevel: 0
 Installation location: E:\x64\setup\
 Installation edition: Standard
User Input Settings:
 ACTION: EditionUpgrade
 CONFIGURATIONFILE: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server120円\Setup Bootstrap\Log20150811円_121219\ConfigurationFile.ini
 ENU: true
 FEATURES: BROWSER
 HELP: false
 IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS: true
 INDICATEPROGRESS: false
 INSTANCENAME: <empty>
 PID: *****
 QUIET: false
 QUIETSIMPLE: false
 UIMODE: Normal
 X86: false
 Configuration file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server120円\Setup Bootstrap\Log20150811円_121219\ConfigurationFile.ini
Detailed results:
 Feature: SQL Browser
 Status: Passed
Rules with failures:
Global rules:
There are no scenario-specific rules.
Rules report file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server120円\Setup Bootstrap\Log20150811円_121219\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.htm

Answer 1

Your problem is you are trying to install Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 2008 (the original release, not R2) on a SQL Server 2008 R2 instance.

Despite the similar names, SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 are different releases, with different Service Packs.

Apply the correct Service Pack for SQL Server 2008 R2 (the latest is SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 3), then you should be able to upgrade to 2014 Standard with no problem.