I can’t install SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services

I can’t install SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services - Help!

I installed SQL Server 2008 Express, basic edition (SQLEXPR32_x86_ENU_Bootstrapper.exe, version 9.0.30729.1) without any problem.

Then I attempted to install AdventureWorks Sample Databases for SQL Server 2008 (SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x86.msi). This attempt failed because SQL Server 2008 Express, basic edition doesn’t support Full-text Search, which AdventureWorks requires.

So I uninstalled SQL Server 2008 Express, basic edition and attempted to install SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services (SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe,version 10.00.1600.22), which does support Full-text Search. This attempt failed because the installer demands an account number and password, which I don’t have.

Bear in mind, all Express versions of SQL Server are free from Microsoft, and I obtained my copy directly from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/express/sql/download).

Moreover, although during the course of the installation a Product Key window appears, in which a user might have under different circumstances be intended to enter a registration key, in this version of the software this is clearly not intended. I say this because not only is the radio button labeled “Specify a free edition” selected (with the associated drop-down menu showing “Express with Advanced Services”), and the other associated radio button labeled “Enter the product key” is left unselected, but also this entire group of WinForm controls is rendered inactive.

Incidentally, I also tried to add Full-text Search capability to my original installation of SQL Server 2008 Express, basic edition via it’s Configuration Manager, but the Manager showed (wrongly) that this capability was already installed and was unable to implement this capability.

So: what do I do now?

Go to Add/Remove programs and see if you find anythng related to SQL Server 2008 installed. if you still find something, please uninstall them. Make sure that you select all the features while uninstalling. Then go ahead and install SQL server 2008 with Advanced Series Express Edition. I had installed the same some time back and i did not face any issues. The only pre-requisites for SQL Server 2008 are PowerShell 1.0, Windows Installer 4.5, .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Also, if you already have Visual Studio 2008 installed in you system, you have two options: 1. Unistall VS2008(without SP1 of VS2008), install SQL 2008 and then install VS2008 and VS 2008 SP1. 2. Install VS2008 SP1 and then install SQL Server 2008.

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Anand Gupta17y ago
Go to Add/Remove programs and see if you find anythng related to SQL Server 2008 installed. if you still find something, please uninstall them. Make sure that you select all the features while uninstalling. Then go ahead and install SQL server 2008 with Advanced Series Express Edition. I had installed the same some time back and i did not face any issues. The only pre-requisites for SQL Server 2008 are PowerShell 1.0, Windows Installer 4.5, .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Also, if you already have Visual Studio 2008 installed in you system, you have two options: 1. Unistall VS2008(without SP1 of VS2008), install SQL 2008 and then install VS2008 and VS 2008 SP1. 2. Install VS2008 SP1 and then install SQL Server 2008.
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Bob Lewiston17y ago
I tried SQL Server 2008 Enterprise 180-day evaluation version - same result.
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