Tracing Deprecated Features SQL Server during database migration or upgrade

Imagine. You have an in-house developed application which you spent so much time and effort on to enable it to close to perfection. Users love you for the state of art build and you feel you have achieved something to be proud of.

2 years down the track, it is time for SQL server major upgrade. Let's bump it up a version and take advantage of the new features and enhancement that Microsoft charge you for. After that hard work on SQL server upgrade, you found that you great perfect application - shows some show stopper issue. You know, it is kind of frustrating if you have developed a database object and one day it just stops working because Microsoft decide to make the world better by retiring existing build-in object and function and replace with a better new one.

Users are asking why your perfect application doesn't work, and suggesting that let's abandon the upgrade project as everything is working at the moment, why change? (the usual normal people...). Time is clicking and you are stress....

I don't want to be there, at that timing. So let's be proactive!! You can found out what deprecated function your application is currently using and how frequent that they are being use with the following query:

And this is a list of link from Microsoft to show you what is required to look out:

Deprecated Database Engine Features in SQL Server 2008 R2

Discontinued Database Engine Functionality in SQL Server 2008 R2

Discontinued Database Engine Functionality in SQL Server 2008

Discontinued Database Engine Functionality in SQL Server 2005

Deprecated Commands in SQL Server 2005

How to extract msu/msp/msi/exe files on the command line

I came across a situation that I need a tiny file (12kB) from a Windows drive kit installer (960MB). Try to find out how to get this tiny screw out without installing the big giant, then I look into the following post at WindowsWiki.

Microsoft Hotfix Installer (.exe)

setup.exe /t:C:\extracted_files\ /c

Microsoft Update Standalone Package (.msu)

expand -F:* update.msu C:\extracted_files

cd extracted_files

expand -F:* update.cab C:\extracted_files

Microsoft Patch File (.msp)

msix patch.msp /out C:\extracted_files

Note: You need to download the msix utility: msix.zip

Windows Installer Package (.msi)

msiexec /a setup.msi /qb TARGETDIR=C:\extracted_files

Imported from my old blog On the quest of a DBA's adventure......