With Windows 8 Consumer Preview released I thought it would be good to clarify for our users which SQL Server Express versions will be supported on Windows 8. Here they are: SQL Server 2008 Express SP3 and above. SQL Server 2008 R2 Express SP1...

This is the second post in a two-post mini-series on using LocalDB with Full IIS. Don't miss the first post . Quick Recap In the first post of this mini-series we said there are two properties of LocalDB causing problems when running under full...

This is the first post in two-post mini-series on using LocalDB with Full IIS. If you found it useful make sure to continue to the second post . LocalDB and Full IIS In this recent post I described how to use SQL Server Express LocalDB with Visual...

LocalDB RC0 is Here, with a Brand New MSI! Release Candidate 0 for SQL Server 2012 has just shipped, bringing a new update to SQL Server Express LocalDB! As announced here LocalDB is a version of SQL Server Express, introduced in the CTP3 of SQL...

SSMS is a Success, But What About the VS? In my recent post I was using .NET Framework 4.0.2 to enable SQL Server Management Studio to connect to LocalDB. It all worked rather well and I declared success and moved on to another topic . I conveniently...

As I mentioned in the previous post LocalDB handles database files differently than regular SQL Server. The regular SQL Server assumes that it is actively managed by a DBA. The DBA carefully configures SQL Server during the installation and afterwards...

Updated 2011-11-11: Added a link to the post on how LocalDB handles database file locations. Updated 2012-01-03: Clarified that only SSMS from SQL Server 2012 (or newer) will work with the .NET 4 Update 4.0.2, since earlier SSMS versions are using...

Updated 2011-11-28: Added reference to the walkthrough of using LocalDB in Visual Studio 2010 and to the new LocalDB Installer . Updated 2011-11-02: Added reference to .NET Framework 4 support for LocalDB in the Q&A section. Introduction ...

I'd like to share this post about ClickOnce Bootstrapper for SQL Server 2008 R2 Express delivered for the community by Robin Shahan (RobinDotNet, MVP). It is great to see members of our community to step up and deliver where we failed to deliver. Thank...

The final release of SQL Server 2008 R2 was made publically available on April 21, 2010! SQL Server Express continues to ship in 4 different packages. In this release of Express, we simplified the installation wizard. For the November CTP release, I documented...

Great news for SQL Server Express users today! We increased the maximum database size in SQL Server 2008 R2 Express from 4GB to 10GB . You can try it out today – just go to SQL Server 2008 R2 Download Page and select...

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[update 1/17/2012: Fixed formatting and clarified all comments apply to all future Service Packs of SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express] [update 4/28/2010: All comments in this post apply to .NET Framework 4 RTM and to SQL Server...

With the release of the SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP , we have simplified the SQL Server Express (all editions and package) installation process.  In this release, we have completed the following: Reduced the number of clicks by 50% when performing...

Microsoft is committed to making the SQL Server the best database in the industry for embedding with your application. For us to achieve this goal, we need your candid feedback on your experience with embedding SQL Server Express.  If you have used...

Microsoft is committed to making the SQL Server Express installation experience the best in industry. For us to achieve this goal, we need your candid feedback on your experience with installing SQL Server Express.  If you have used several different...

I’d like to share the link to a blog post by Brock Weaver, where he explains how to add SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools to the list of prerequisites for ClickOnce packages: http://youarenotexpectedtounderstandthis.blogspot.com/2009/08/vsnet-2008...

The August CTP of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is now published: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/ee315247.aspx . Give it a try and give us feedback!!!   This release does not have many changes around the Express when compared to SQL...

The installation of .NET 3.5 can fail for several reasons. Sometimes the .NET 3.5 install fails and sometime SQL Server Setup fails to detect .NET is already on the machine.   If you view the %temp%\sqlsetup.log you can determine whether the .NET...

This topic will be expanded in the near future, but currently is a placeholder.

Starting in September, we are considering automatically updating SQL Server 2008 including all Express Edition to Service Pack 1 (SP1). See http://blogs.msdn.com/petersad/archive/2009/07/30/sql-server-2008-service-pack-sp-1-on-microsoft-update-as-a-required...

We recently published a technical article on how to embed and run SQL Server 2008 Express in unattended mode. The article is at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd981032.aspx . We expect to revise this article at a later point in time. To ensure...

There are two options for installing SQL Server 2008 Express. 1. Basic: Choose this option to install SQL Server Express with minimal effort by using the Web Platform Installer and a pre-defined defaults. Visit SQL Server Express download page to perform...

In the next release of SQL Server, called SQL Server 2008 R2 we are working on addressing issues that complicated the installation of SQL Server Express.  As the timeframe to address these issues is tight for this release we won’t be able to address...