Monday, January 19, 2009
Nothing Express About SQL Server 2008 Express
Express - adjective
- clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.
- special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.
- direct or fast, esp. making few or no intermediate stops: an express train; an express elevator.
- used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.
- duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.
That's the definition of express from dictionary.com. But there is nothing express about SQL Server Express. I have been attempting to install it on a VPC image of Vista Ulitimate, SP1. Here's what I went through:
- clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.
- special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.
- direct or fast, esp. making few or no intermediate stops: an express train; an express elevator.
- used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.
- duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.
That's the definition of express from dictionary.com. But there is nothing express about SQL Server Express. I have been attempting to install it on a VPC image of Vista Ulitimate, SP1. Here's what I went through:
- Download the install package. I'll accept this one. I can't install without having it.
- Launch installation package.
- Install FAIL. I need to download and install a Windows Installer 4.5 Why does every Microsoft product need a different version of the installer? And why can't it be included in the product's installation package?
- Download Windows Installer 4.5
- Forced reboot. An installer is an APPLICATION, not part of the OS and should not require an OS reboot.
- Launch installation package.
- Install FAIL. I walked through several screens only to be told that installation couldn't continue because PowerShell was not installed. Why is PowerShell even required? And if it is, I should at least be told at the beginning of the install process that it's not installed. Don't tell me half way through several dialogs.
- Download and install PowerShell.
- Launch SQL Server Express installer.
- But wait, there's more. I walked through 16!!! different screens and had over 30 clicks!!! in addition to selecting the account to run SQL Server, entering an administrator password (twice). I didn't even select all features or look at all the options. Many of the dialogs (Setup support rules, Setup support files) weren't needed. Others (license terms, product key) could be combined into a single dialog.
Express is supposed to lite weight and easy to setup and use. Nothing about this was easy to setup. Install process FAIL. In the end, the install was successful.
Labels: SQL Server
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