Install SQL Server 2008 Express

In case you do not have a license for SQL Server 2008 (often a component of Microsoft Small Business Server), you and your colleagues can use SQL Server 2008 Express for free and with few limitations.

SQL Server 2008 Express may be downloaded from Microsoft using this link. http://www.microsoft.com/express/sql/register/default.aspx

You will have to choose either SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools or SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services. The third option (SQL Server 2008 Express) is not sufficient for this purpose.

And now for some comments:

Installing and setting up a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 will take some time and it is a good idea to plan ahead.

Time consumption

On a Windows Vista PC - with none of the prerequisites installed - the installation of SQL Server 2008 Express can consume time as follows:

1. Installing .NET Framework 3.5	23 minutes
2. Installing Windows Installer 4.5	11 minutter
3. Installing PowerShell	5 minutter
4. Installing SQL Server 2008	34 minutter

Restarting the PC is likely to be required.

The above times are in our experience a worst case scenario. On faster machines (like dedicated servers) the process will complete faster.

On the other hand the process will take considerably longer if you do not do some preparations.

Preparations

The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 install process has some prerequisites. The installation program will itself check whether these are fulfilled, but the installation will run smoother and faster if you yourself installs the prerequisites before the actual SQL Server 2008 installation.

1.	Install .NET Framework version 3.5. You will find this at Microsoft Websites. Search for "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1"

2.	Install Windows Installer version 4.5. You will find this at Microsoft Websites. Search for "Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable"

Install PowerShell: This can be obtained for here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/download.mspx
(If your platform is Windows Server 2008, PowerShell can be chosen as part of the Windows Server 2008 configuration. In such event do not download PowerShell at the above link).

4.	If Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Studio is presently on your machine you will have to remove it (complete de-installation).

5.	Now you are ready to Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

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