Installing SQL Server 2008 Express on Windows Server 2003

I decided today to give it a shot installing SQL Server 2008 Express. http://www.microsoft.com/express/sql/default.aspx

One note, I am doing so in Windows Server 2003 R2.  Why? It is a VM and I had the license for an Enterprise so I decided to use it.

For starters, I needed to install .Net Framework 3.5 SP1

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ab99342f-5d1a-413d-8319-81da479ab0d7&displaylang=en

Guess what…. reboot! (I really hope that the day comes when it is not required to reboot every single time I change something in Windows….

Another step more

“Setup requires Windows Installer 4.5 or higher”….

So http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Installed.  Reboot…again….

Now what else? 

Lot of tests passed, however Windows Power Shell missing

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=10EE29AF-7C3A-4057-8367-C9C1DAB6E2BF&displaylang=en

Installed, re-run tests.  Pass.

Select what to install.  Personally selected Database Engine and Management Tools.  Next, next, next….

Added myself as admin and use my user.  I just need to install a test db.  However, long process!

Finally, installing!

Wait quite a bit, and you are ready to roll.  Looks pretty nice, however installing should be a bit easier.  Especially since it is Express.

Leave a Reply