uninstall SQL Server 2005 Express

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I am currently running Visual Studio 2005 Express and SQL Server 2005 Express. I am interested in uninstalling these and installing VS 2008 Express. Uninstalling the VS applications seems relatively straightforward, but I’m not sure about the procedure for sql server. I have searched the Microsoft support files and they say, in essence, just uninstall it. But when I go to Control Panel/Programs (in Vista Ultimate), SQL server shows up as five components to be uninstalled separately: SQL Server 2005 Express itselt, plus Management Studio Express, Native Client, Setup Support Files, and VSS Writer. My main question is, do they need to be uninstalled in any particular order? Will uninstalling one of these out of order break the installation of one of the others so that it can’t be removed properly?

Or can I just install the 2008 version over the top of 2005 to upgrade it? I find no documentation that says I can’t, but I find no documentation that says I can, either.

Also, do I need to uninstall SQL Server 2005 before or after uninstalling the Visual Studio development suite. I’m guessing after, but I’m not sure.

If you could point me to any support files that would answer these questions, I would be grateful.

Fafner

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I think both versions could – in theory – coexist, but it’s best to uninstall 2005 before installing 2008. See How to: Uninstall SQL Server Express.

I’d uninstall SQL Server 2005 Express first, then Visual Studio 2005 Express.
Install Visual Studio 2008 Express first, then SQL Server 2008 Express.

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Thanks, Hans. I’ll give that method a try.

By the way, I think I read on a Microsoft site somewhere that Visual Studio 2005 applications can live alongside VS 2008, but I’m not sure why you’d need both. As for multiple SQL Server versions, that seems a little iffy.

Fafner

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Just as an addendum to what Hans has stated:
As far as uninstalling SQL Server Express start with uninstalling the database engine. Some of the entries in Programs and Features are actually uninstalled (the VSS entry is one I think…it’s been awhile) and if you try and remove them a message will appear stating that you can only uninstall a program that is installed (or something to that effect), so they really have been uninstalled. If you were to refresh Programs and Features they will no longer be displayed. There are a couple of “stand-alone” entries which do require uninstalling though, of which, I believe, Management studio is one of them.
After removing all the SQL server entries, I also delete the sql server folder and sub-folders. This saves the hassle of locating the “correct” sql folders when you need to find your data/log/backup files. If you really want a clean start (not necessary though) clean-up the registry of sql server entries as well.
As far as compatibility of running both 2005 and 2008, they are completely distinct and will run side by side with no interference. So you really cannot upgrade 2005 into 2008. In fact I have a virtual machine which is running MSDE (sql server 2000’s version), SQL Server 2005 Express and have just installed SQL Server Express 2008 all are easily accessible and independent of each other. One reason I have done this is backward compatibilty issues. I’ve done some things for people who are using the MSDE, do not want to change or need the added functionality. Designing in 2005 then trying to “dumb it down” into MSDE is really close to impossible, so in keeping the old I can give them what they need.

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Thank you very much for this. Based on what you say, I may leave SQL Server 2005 Express installed and install 2008 as well, primarily because of compatibility with Access 2007 (I haven’t looked through MS support files yet to see if Access 2007 is compatible with SQL 2008, but I recall that Access 2003 doesn’t work with SQL 2005, so this is probably the pattern.)

Another question: After downloading SQL Server 2008 Express, I found instructions to install .Net Framework 3.5, Windows Installer 4.5, and Windows Powershell 1.0 BEFORE installing SQL 2008. Did you encounter this?

Fafner

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Yes. Those are required for SQL server 2008.

Joe

--Joe

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Read the thread at Access 2007 and Sql Server 2008 in Access ADP SQL for a discussion of Access 2007 & SQL Server 2008.

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks for all the information about uninstalling Visual Studio 2005 Express and installing 2008, along with SQL Express. Here’s where I am so far. I uninstalled all the 2005 programs without a problem. Then I inserted the Visual Studio Express 2008 CD (burned from a downloaded iso file), and installed the VB, VC#, VC++, and VWD. These were installed one at a time, as directed in the setup instructions. The installation of the first program also installed SQL Server Compact Edition and SQL Server Express at the same time.

So now I have SQL Server Express installed without using the separate SQLEXPRESS file that I downloaded. The trouble is, I want to install the advanced services and can’t figure out how to do it. I especially need the current version of SQL Management Studio Express that was an optional part of SQL 2005. The installation program gives me the option of adding features or installing a new program. The Add Features option doesn’t work at all. It apparently thinks that I already have all the features, even though I don’t. If I opt for new install and leave the Instance Name as SQLEXPRESS, it says I can’t install because that name is already in use (which makes sense). If I change it to, say, MSSQLSERVER, the installation apparently will work. But what I want to know is, will I then have a completely new installation of SQLExpress alongside the one I already have, taking up twice the disk space of one installation?

Without SQL Management Studio Express, or whatever the current tool is called, I’m stumped about how to connect to the database. Using Visual Basic Express, I can connect to SQL Compact Edition but I don’t have a clue how to connect with SQL Express. As far as the access I have to it, it might as well not even be installed, but it shows up in the start menu and in the Task Manager, so I know it’s there and running. I never had any trouble connecting with the 2005 version but 2008 has me stumped.

So my main goal right now is to get the Advanced Tools or Advanced Services installed on the installation of SQLExpress 2008 that I already have. Any ideas?

Fafner

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I’d uninstall everything and start over installing SQL Server Express first. I’m pretty sure that the Visual Studio install will detect that SQL Server is already installed and use it.

Joe

--Joe

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Yeah, I was thinking that might be necessary. What if I just installed SQL Express and reinstalled it?

Fafner

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You can certainly give that a try first. It shouldn’t take much time and you can always go ahead with a complete uninstall later.

Joe

--Joe

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Well, I did a complete uninstall and then reinstalled everything, this time starting with SQL Express and then Visual Studio. Everything seems to be working ok now. The only glitch I have had so far is an error message when I tried to connect with Visual Studio (‘Failed to generate a user instance of a SQL Server due to to a failure in starting the process for the user instance.’ — another way of saying ‘it didn’t work because it didn’t work’??). But after a brief internet search for this error message led me to rename the folder C:Users[username]Local SettingsApp DataMicrosoftMicrosoft SQL ServerSQL Express, everything seems to be functioning — so far.

Thanks for your help.

Fafner

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You’re welcome. Glad you got it all working. Thanks for posting back.

Joe

--Joe

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