Hello,

I am currently experimenting with installing SQL Server Express 2008 on Vista.

I already have SQL Server 2005 Express installed and just intend on having both running side by side. - Throughout the install process 2008 has needed to update Vista several times and just as it reaches the last test before installing it states:
1) Visual Studio SP1 required
2) SQL Server Express 2005 Tools are installed - please remove them

for
1) I simply downloaded an update for Visual Studio Express 2008 with SP1
2) was not as easy to find -

Go to Add / Remove programmes, find Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - click uninstall + you can select to remove just the "Workstation Components" - this will not remove the database engine


Further info can be read at these 2 blogs:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...ress-fails

http://blog.crowe.co.nz/archive/200...tinue.aspx

Hi Lee Possibly unrelated but might give you some cluses. I recently tried to uninstall SQL 2005 Express and then re-install to a different location. The re-install failed miserably. I found a few articles (on Microsoft) about installing SQL 2005 after having a trial version. Which gave me some cluse. But bottom line - I removed the install with Add / Remove programs and then went through regedit and deleted any mention od SQLEXPRESS. I have then been able to install SQL Express fresh My theory is that these product do not like multiple instances of the same package or mixed packages. I hope you took an image of the system before you tried the install so that you can wind back and try again Good luck Dave

hi Dave,

Yes I was experimenting in a virtual PC, it is very easy for me to test out configurations and then roll back to a previous version, I simply have to copy the virtual PC to rollback. If you are experimenting with this I would also recommend you look at virtual PCs as they can save you a lot of headaches!
How to setup and use Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Cheers,