detect MSDE and install if not found

[linuxbox]

I'm trying to figure out a way to detect if MSDE is installed and if not, install MSDE and enter my database with tables, fields and data. i think MS has updated MSDE to MS SQL 2005 server express edition. i have downloaded that and would like to include that in my install but i don't know how to detect if any of the free versions of SQL server from microsoft are already installed on the machine.
anyone have an example of this or tell me how to achieve this?
thanks.

[MichaelNesmith]

Hi!

The best way to do this is using the Check Service command. Please check the SQL Express 2005 check-box in the Application Runtimes visual view. Then, switch to the code view, and study the code in the include files that the IDE has added for you. The auto generated code is for SQL Express 2005, but detecting older MSDE versions will be very similar.

You can also use the MS SQL Server command to run your database scripts against an MSDE instance, to create your tables, etc. once MSDE has been installed.

[ArnoldKoay]

mind telling me how similar if detecting older MSDE?