InstallAware

I am having a difficult time getting SQL Express 2005 to install. Microsoft requires the .NET Framework 2.0 be uninstalled prior to installing SQL Express, the built-in plug in take this into account. If anyone has a good SQL Express install package they would share I would appreciate it. thanks.

Hi Linuxman!

Actually, the .NET Framework 2.0 does need to be installed before SQL Express. But I presume you are referring perhaps to the beta version which needs to be uninstalled? If so, this is not handled automatically, as the beta version is not expected to be found on production machines anyways.

MichaelNesmith wrote:Hi Linuxman!

Actually, the .NET Framework 2.0 does need to be installed before SQL Express. But I presume you are referring perhaps to the beta version which needs to be uninstalled? If so, this is not handled automatically, as the beta version is not expected to be found on production machines anyways.

Michael, do you have a sample script that can install this. I have tried and tried to install on a plain box running Windows 2000 with the latest Service pack and cannot get this to install as I would expect. It continues telling me it cannot install SQL 2005 Express and just exits out. A sample script would be great. Thanks.

Hi

I don't have a sample script, but its real easy to make one - just create a new Win32 project using the template, then switch to the visual view (if you're not already there), switch to the Application Runtimes page, and check Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005. Build, and test - that will take care of it for you.

Let me know if that works. You may have taken a similar approach earlier but if you customized the setup command line for SQL Express, you may have introduced errors, etc...Also please review the system requirements for SQL Express here:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/e ... sreqs.mspx

Michael,

We tried this, maybe it is the processor on our test box, it is very weak, I think a 450, let me verify it and get back. I have manually installed it there before, but we have to Dell Optiplex identical cans so maybe I have mistaken the incorrect one. I will try on another test box and see what the outcome is.

Thanks for the reply, we are only setting the instance name and sapwd. We selecting any of the others. He is something I did notice. If I make them changes, and save the program. When I go back into it; it continues to loose the customized command line. Now this one is puzzling. I am in the process of having a new box delivered and will test on it. Will installaware run and function okay on a 64-bit system?

Hello

Your report that settings are not preserved in the plug-in leads me to conclude that you are not clicking the "Generate Command Line" button in the plug-in. You must click this to make sure your settings are applied, otherwise they are not applied. I believe this may solve your problem. I don't think 64 bits etc. is an issue here.

Michael,

First of all, you have been a real help on this so far. I have gotten it to install as it should.

Next issue; uninstalling.

When I try running the uninstall process, it keep prompting me for the files and says it is upgrading the SQL 2005 Express. Or vice-versa; upgrade and then prompts for the files. Then the process dies and nothing is uninstalled. Anyideas on how to get it to delete the instance we created of SQL and not any others they have installed on their computer. I first thought about deleting the folder, but it is possible the end-user has additional database instances. We are releasing a trial and we expect a 100 or so will get it and want to remove it after reviewing, we have another version they will likely want to purchase.

Thanks again. I hope all this information is also useful to others.

I'm sorry, I don't think I have enough information to help you out this time!

First off, pre-requisites are not uninstalled when an application is removed - this is by design and makes sure vital system components are not taken away when an application is removed. If a user believes pre-requisites need to be uninstalled, (s)he may of course remove them from the Control Panel where they are openly displayed. If you do want to remove your pre-requisites you may do so in your setup script, but you have to add in this behavior into your setup script.

Next, an empty installer with the SQL Server Express pre-requisite installs and uninstalls successfully...so I think the errors you are experiencing might be related to other elements of your setup, but I cannot really tell without knowing more.