Problem Reinstalling SQL Server Express 2008 under Windows 7

Dear SQL and Windows 7 People:

I have a system running Windows 7. It is not my main system, and
I have not installed much on it.

I installed SQL Server Express 2008 on it. I also installed SQL
Server Denali. The Denali installation ended up replacing my SSMS
with the Denali one. Because of some differences in the behaviour of
the SSMS, I wanted 2008's SSMS back.

I uninstalled both SQL Server versions and deleted all files in
the SQL Server directories in C:\Program Files and c:\Program Files
(x86). Not knowing what to do about any possible Registry trash, I
did nothing to the Registry.

I then installed SQL Server 2008 Express. The installation was
successful. Well, that is what I was told. There was no SSMS! I
have tried yet again (uninstall then install), and the same thing
happened again.

I could just nuke the box and restart, but I would rather avoid
something that extreme and time-consuming.

Is there anything I can do, or does this system get to be a
sacrificial goat to the evil god ReinstallFromOSOnUp?

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

On 4/18/2012 5:54 PM, Gene Wirchenko wrote:

<snipped>

I would say flatten the HD, install the O/S and install SQL Server. You
probably did something that's unrecoverable, keeping it simple.

On Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:10:54 -0400, Big Steel
<> wrote:

>On 4/18/2012 5:54 PM, Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>
><snipped>
>
>I would say flatten the HD, install the O/S and install SQL Server. You
>probably did something that's unrecoverable, keeping it simple.

Well, having already managed to toast an XP system so that SQL
Server could not be reinstalled, that is certainly credible.

I wish I knew what it was that I did.

I am trying YA installation with YA version of SSE2008 -- there
are too many of them -- and maybe, it will work. If not, I suppose I
will nuke it tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

On Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:20:51 -0700, Gene Wirchenko <>
wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:10:54 -0400, Big Steel
><> wrote:
>
>>On 4/18/2012 5:54 PM, Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>>
>><snipped>
>>
>>I would say flatten the HD, install the O/S and install SQL Server. You
>>probably did something that's unrecoverable, keeping it simple.
>
> Well, having already managed to toast an XP system so that SQL
>Server could not be reinstalled, that is certainly credible.
>
> I wish I knew what it was that I did.
>
> I am trying YA installation with YA version of SSE2008 -- there
>are too many of them -- and maybe, it will work. If not, I suppose I
>will nuke it tomorrow.

What's the status of your backups?

--

Char Jackson

Gene Wirchenko () writes:
> I installed SQL Server Express 2008 on it. I also installed SQL
> Server Denali. The Denali installation ended up replacing my SSMS
> with the Denali one. Because of some differences in the behaviour of
> the SSMS, I wanted 2008's SSMS back.

No, installing SQL 2012 does not replace SSMS 2008. I have both versions
installed my system. (However, naîvely accepting "do you want to transfer
your settings for SSMS 2008 to SQL Server 2012, some of the settings
were transferred in the other direction.) Mind you, this was developer
edition, not Express, but I fail to see that should make a difference.

> I then installed SQL Server 2008 Express. The installation was
> successful. Well, that is what I was told. There was no SSMS!

A plain installation of SQL 2008 Express does not include SSMS. You
need SQL 2008 Express with Advanced Services, as I recall.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP,

Links for SQL Server Books Online:
SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx
SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx