Your license has expired...

Question

I have installed and configured MS Search Server 2008 Express. I have created data sources and crawls. But whenever I search for something, I receive the following error message:

"Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired"

You assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Jorge

Answer 1

I am having the same problem. Setup Search Server 2008 Express yesterday, created the data sources and successfully crawled the data files. But when I try to do a search, I get the error "Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired." I was not aware of any license for this product that I had installed. Have you had any luck researching this?

 

Answer 2

Thank you Jorge and Bobby. 

 

There is one known issue (by design) that may cause this message. 

 

1. Is this the "RTM" version or the "RC" version of Search Server Express?

The RC version was released on November 6, 2008, and the RTM version was released on March 3, 2008. 

Also, in Add/Remove Programs, the RTM Version has a build number of 12.0.6237.*, and does not say "Beta" in the product name.

 

2. How is your farm topology configured?  As explained in Plan to Deploy Search Server and elsewhere the key difference between Search Server Express and Search Server (not Express) is that Express is limited to topologies with one application server running the index and query roles. 

 

If the answer to 1 is "the RC version" and 2 is "in a topology with two or more application servers), then the solution is to use the Central Admin > Services on Server page to reconfigure the Office SharePoint Server Search Service to have one server that is both the indexer and query role.

 

In the RTM version, the error message is updated to correctly identify that the issue is the with the topology configuration.

 

If this is not the case, then this is a new issue.  Would you please open a bug using Microsoft Connect?  This will enable our test team to begin an investigation and gather information required to reproduce the problem in our labs.

 

Sage

 

Answer 3

Hi everybody!

 

Did anybody resolve the issue somehow? We have the same problem and we didn't use the RC version. We installed the RTM version one week ago on a Win2K3 server where it did run without any problems. Now we had to install it on another Win2K3 server (due to overload on the 1st one) and now we receive the same message "Your license of Microsoft Search Server has expired" (translated message -> we use the german version.

 

We only use one server as both indexer and query role.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Phil

 

Answer 4

Seems that I have got the same problem.

 

Installed the MS Search Server Express  version 12.06237.1000 RTM version on SBS2003 server with Sharepoint Services 3.0.  Then installed a Dutch Lanquage pack.   "Your license of Microsoft Search Server has expired" 

 

Crawling works, but searching the results not.     As well as the link on the admin page of Search Server to "search central site"  this results in a HTTP 404 Not Found.

 

As far as I can see the server is used for indexer and query..

 

How can I solve this?

 

 

 

Robert

Answer 5

I second that.

 

MS Search Server Express Version 12.06237.1000 RTM on Windows Server 2003 R2

Content is being crawled but searching brings "Your license of Microsoft Search Server has expired". Indexing and Querying enabled.

 

Hoping for answers

 

Hendrik Brunn

Answer 6

Hi,

 

I have a similar issue to that posted above.

 

I initally upgraded MS Sharepoint Services 3.0 to MS Search Server Express (x86). The Search Server Express version is 12.06237.1000. Content is being crawled but searching brings up "Your license of Microsoft Search Server has expired".

 

I then upgraded MS Search Server Express to the 180-day trial version of MS Search Server 2008 (x86), but the searching still brings up "Your license of Microsoft Search Server has expired".

 

Please advise if you require any further details.

 

Regards,

Kevin

Answer 7

Sage
I am running the "RTM" version. I did check the build number and I have configured my farm topology as you described below. I continue to get the "Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired" message. Is there a resolution for this?

Thanks
CJ

Answer 8

Hello - i just ran into this today after a fresh install.  It worked briefly, then began giving me the message about the license having expired. Only change I can think of that I made was to "Reset all crawled content".  after that - no result, just the message.  Has anyone resolved this issue?

thanks,
Drew

 

Answer 9

I have the same issue.  I am using the express version and it is the RTM version.  Any help would be appreciated.

 

Answer 10

After searching the web and getting no help over the past few months I spent the past 2 days (now it needs to go into production tomorrow) figuring this out.  I had the same error, it worked for a little while then one day Search stopped workign with the same error.  I uninstalled then reinstalled and tried a hundred different things.  Finally after getting one error in the event log and through reading some of the different forums who had this same problem I realized it was due to using the Express version of Search and then not using the SQL install that is included in the install.  From what I can tell if you use another SQL instance it thinks you are using multiple servers and that is not allowed for the Express version accoridgn to what I have read. I wanted to use SQL 2005 Std but this seems to be the culprit and installing in Advanced mode, must use Basic. It seems that if it installs properly the first time and does not break then you are ok (one server for another client works fine using SQL 2005), but if it breaks you can either rebuild enitre server from the beginning or from an IMAGE if you made one or try the below which worked for me.

To find the right way to do this I uninstalled and reinstalled about 10 times

I also used this link for assistance and help in understanding what was happening:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc297193.aspx

So below is what I did:
uninstall --in this order----
         Search Server language pack (if applicable),
         Search Server,
         reboot,
         language pack for Sharepoint 3.0 SP1,
         SP 3.0SP1,
         reboot,
         I also uninstalled Windows Internal Database (installed with SP) on one test but not sure it is necessary.  reboot
         detach and delete all DBs (mine were empty I think you can reuse DBs without issue but did nto test)
install SP 3.0 SP1 use BASIC option
run SP config tool each time you are prompted thoughout all of the rest of the steps
reboot after each install
I did not install any language packs because I need ENglish and VIetnamese, there is no Vietnamese for Search Server (yet) and somewhere I read you had to install LP for both SP and Search or there will be problems
run SP config tool
Search Server Express must use Basic option
run SP config tool
I also redirected or moved all DBs files to another drive then the default C:\Windows\SYSMSI to the E: drive but kept them on the SQL installed with SP and Search
After this it worked fine
I decided it is not worth trying to get the DBs to SQL 2005 STD for this environment.  But there are ways to move DBs after the install to another SQL instance.  Try at your own risk But the above worked for and I did it twice on the same server successfully.


Hope this is clear, if not email me
[e-mail]

Answer 11

After running the repair on Microsoft Search Server Express 2008, I started getting this error everytime I tried to do a search.

 

The fix is to run one more time the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard found in Start > Programs > Microsoft Search Server.

 

It worked for me and I didn't loose any data.

Answer 12

Hi,

PROBLEM SOLVED FOR ME!


What was my problem ? :

- The UAC on my Windows Server 2008 was Enabled... so tou can disable it on:
       >Start > Run > MSCONFIG > Disable UAC > Start
       - You need to restart the machine

- Run SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard again:
       >Start > Administration Tools > ...


CONCLUSION :
My problem occured because the wizard could not do some actions with the UAC enabled in the first place... and i haven't received any error...

----------------
Cauê Abreu - MCTS Web && SharePoint
ITGROUP - Microsoft Gold Partner - São Paulo - Brazil

Answer 13

I tried turning off the UAC and rerunning the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard again, but it didn't get rid of the license expired message.

I'm afraid my cause is the same as yanniemx but I can't uninstall from the MSSQL 2005 std.

Any more ideas?

Thanks

Answer 14

My solution was to run the "SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard"when i got the "Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired"

The problem arised after the install of Office Servers service pack 2  and sharepoint servicepack 2

---

Tatsumi Morota

Answer 15

My solution is the same as for Tatsumi, and the origin is the same too, installation of sharepoint servicepack 2

Answer 16

To support Tatsumi's answer, my solution was the same.   The "Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired" error went away after I ran the "SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard".   The error first appeared after I installed the Office Servers service pack 2 update.

Answer 17

Central Administration
Operations
Service Accounts
Select an account for this component - make sure it's not Network Service - choose Configurable User Name and Password

The message:

Your license for Microsoft Search Server has expired.

will be gone.

GReg

Answer 18

You can even get this error on a MOSS/search server  env.


Central Administration > Operations > Convert License Type  


Check what your current license type is.


After installing SP2 you can run into this issue.   http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/971620 




This may occur if McAfee PortalShield V2.0 is installed. 

Install the latest patch of McAfee.

Exclude the sharepoint files & folders from scanning.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952167

Answer 19

check out this KB article

worked for me when running "SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard" did not.  Seems old version of SP2 caused this.  Very easy patch to fix.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/971620