Upgrading Sql 2008 express to SP2

Apparently you will need to run the exe for Sql Server 2008 SP2 to upgrade you Sql 2008 Express instances to SP2. The installer for the express SP2 editions will only let you create a new instance, but not upgrade an existing instance.

Download the SQL 2008 SP2 from here - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=12548

Code signing explained

Excellent post by Jeff Wilcox on Code signing you app - http://www.jeff.wilcox.name/2010/02/codesigning101/

Encrypt/Decrypt data from within SQL server using a pass phrase

SQL server has two functions EncryptByPassPhrase and DecryptByPassPhrase which encrypt/decrypt data with a passphrase using a TripleDES algorithm with a 128 bit key.

EncryptByPassPhrase - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190357.aspx