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To continue on with the theme of unattended installation-related posts lately, what if you want to install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition in unattended mode? SQL Server 2000 had the ability to save the installation into a file called setup.iss - how nice of Microsoft to remove this feature from SQL Server 2005 ... however, let's get rolling.

This post has been removed in favour of pushing readers towards installing SQL Server 2008 Express instead of SQL Server 2005 Express.

The benefits of using the 2008 version over 2005 are too numerous to list here and an article has been published on Digital Formula that goes into detail on how to perform an unattended installation of SQL Server 2008 Express. Please click the preceding link for full information.

» Tags: silent, sql server 2008 express, Unattended, sql server 2008, sql 2008, sql 2008 express

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Steph: Sorry about that! The downloads have failed because the download manager I used to use isn't compatible with Wordpress MU (which this site now runs). Please have a look in http://digitalformula.net/download/ and the files you need will be in there. Thanks! :)

chris on June 17, 2010

Hey Chrisyour download encountered an error.File deleted?http://www.digitalformula.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/sql-2005-express.inibtw: many thanks for your smal guide.GreetingsSteph

Steph on June 17, 2010

[...] (silent mode) ... If you need more information about unattended switches you can check here. ...How to perform an unattended installation of SQL Server 2005 ...To continue on with the theme of unattended installation-related posts lately what if you want to [...]

unattended mode on April 05, 2010

ADDLOCAL=ALLINSTANCENAME=MWEBSQLACCOUNT=NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICESQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1 SQLAUTOSTART=1AGTAUTOSTART=0SECURITYMODE=SQLSAPWD=WELCOMEDISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=0ADDUSERADMIN=0This is the one which i tried and i got started fine but while installing it's not able to install the sql db and the setup is failing showing an errorView sql server2005 log files and the install

sarat chandra on March 30, 2010

MT: I've received that error numerous times in the past and it's always been an error in the username or password ... sorry. I think UAC is enabled by default in Windows Server 2008 so you could try that. Unfortunately I don't have a Windows Server 2008 system here to test it on. :(

chris on March 16, 2010

Hi ChrisI am trying to install Sql Server 2005 Express with the following arguments/qn ADDLOCAL=SQL_EngineSQL_Data_Files INSTANCENAME=SqlExpress SQLAUTOSTART=1 AGTAUTOSTART=1 SECURITYMODE=SQL SAPWD=Password123 DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=2 SQLACCOUNT='NT AUTHORITY\\LOCAL SYSTEM' AGTACCOUNT='NT AUTHORITY\\LOCAL SYSTEM'However I keep getting the following error:SQL Server Setup could not validate the service accounts. Either the service accounts have not been provided for all of the services being installed or the specified username or password is incorrect. For each service specify a valid username password and domain or specify a built-in system accountI tried using NT Authority\System. Same error. You have any ideas? BTW I am using Windows Server 2008

MT on March 15, 2010

Hi CrissRealy helpfull article I thank you very much.Warm RegardsVinu M

Vinu M on March 15, 2010

Yes I am trying to create a package to push Falconview to multiple workstations. SQL server is a prerequisite for Falconview. JMPS_SQL_SERVER is required for the program to open. I used the setup.exe with the .ini file but the instance JMPS_SQL_SERVER portion of SQL Server Express Edition does no load. Any suggestion would be very helpful.

Pete on March 10, 2010

Pete: Please excuse my ignorance but what is JMPS_SQL_SERVER? I searched for it and found something to do with FalconView and spatial/map data - is what it relates to?

chris on March 10, 2010

ChrisI am trying to get JMPS_SQL_SERVER to install using the .ini file. Is there a setting within the .ini file that needs to be changed for this to install?Thanks

Pete on March 10, 2010

Gordon: Hmmm I haven't seen that particular error before. I see you're using a file in the root of C: drive though - depending on your OS installation programs *might* be restricted from reading from there (e.g. Windows 7 is really picky about what actions you can take with the root of the C: drive). Have you tried running the same steps but with the .ini file in a directory that's nothing to do with Windows e.g. C:\Data perhaps?

chris on March 09, 2010

Chris I'm getting an error message: Settings file C:\sql-2005-express.ini is missing or invalid. Please ensure this file exists and is accessible. I've used your script file with minimal changes. Any idea what is happening to cause this error message? Thanks!

Gordon Bockert on March 06, 2010

hi created a sql installer class using sql embedded installer sample how can i had this sql installer class as my prerequesties during setup and deplopyment project

Sathish kumar on December 11, 2009

sathish: Sorry but no I can't make you a sample solution. What you're asking for isn't really a 'sample' ... it's something you'd need to commission someone to do (which wouldn't be free).

chris on December 10, 2009

Hi it is a nice article.I want to know how to deploy unattended installation using .net setup and deployment project can u send me a sample solution for this it will be help full (i have very little knowledge in .net setup and deployment ). Thanks in advance

sathish on December 10, 2009

Mark: Thanks for your comment. In case you weren't sure the ADDUSERASADMIN option is only for the SQL Server Administrator role not the Windows Administrator role/group. If modification of files is prohibited unless you're a *local* administrator running in the administrative context (Run As Administrator) the ADDUSERASADMIN option won't help for anything other than SQL Server changes that require administrative privileges. Please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143401(SQL.90).aspx for Microsoft's documentation on this option.

chris on October 20, 2009

HiYou really saved my day. The [SQLACCOUNT=

Mark on October 20, 2009

I don't know why the connection strings didn't show in my post.Here is one again:Data Source=.\SQLExpress

Cal on April 17, 2009

RE: INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVERSeems I remember the default name for SQL Server 2005 Express is SQLExpress.I seen many starter kits with connection strings like: could you comment on that?BTW I have SQL Server 2008 installed and wish to also have SQL Server 2005 Express installed. Do you think that will work OK?I have SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 installed in J disk but Visual Studio (which has SQL Server 2005 Express as a component) will only enable me to install SQL Studio 2005 on C the system disk.So I plan to try your approach to install it on j. Think it should work?Thanks a lot

Cal on April 17, 2009

ashish: There are plenty of Microsoft articles that cover the specifics of including SQL Express 2005 as a prerequisite for your applications. Here are some links that will help you:<a >Embedding SQL Server Express into Custom Applications</a><a >Walkthrough: Using a Custom Action to Create a Database at Installation</a><a >Forum: How to install SQL Server Express as a prerequisite?</a>Hope that helps!

chris on March 27, 2009

HiI want install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as a prerequisites with my application created using VS 2005 How can I use template.ini to do this ?

ashish parihar on March 27, 2009

Hi Jason and ChrisI was having problem to get SQL instance installed.This really save my day:SQLACCOUNT=

Ping on January 15, 2009

HiIf I would like to install SQL Server 2005 Express as a prerequisites with my application which is created using VS 2008 How can I set the above parameters?thanksKhayralla

Khayralla on October 31, 2008

Hi SampathYes you can do this using the INSTALLSQLDATADIR= directive in your unattended/answer file.

chris on October 01, 2008

HiFor the SQL Express unattended installation can we specify the Data path?I require the data path to be just below the application path.e.g. \Program Files\MyApplication\DatathanksSampath

Sampath on October 01, 2008

Hi JasonI'm glad my article helped you. Thanks for the tip re NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM - it will come in very handy for someone!

chris on September 24, 2008

Thanks. This really saved me a lot of time. The only hitch was that in my case (XP Pro) the service would refuse to start during the install thereby aborting it. Adding this option: SQLACCOUNT=NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM fixed that.

Jason on September 24, 2008

Thanks Chris i'll give it a test later on at work and if it does work (or not) then i'll give you a buzz

Sefy on August 20, 2008

Hi SefyYes I believe most of the options above can be specified on the command line without using an unattended script information file.For example you can run the following command:SETUP.EXE SAPWD=sQ15Erv3RThat will install SQL Express with the strong password supplied. Although I haven't done it and I haven't looked into it myself I don't see any reason why you can't pass the other options as command-line parameters. For example:SETUP.EXE ADDLOCAL=SQL_EngineSQL_Data_FilesClient_ComponentsConnectivitySQL_SSMSEESDK INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1 SECURITYMODE=SQL SQLACCOUNT=

chris on August 20, 2008

First let me say thank you! :-)Now Is all this possible as a command line switch on the SQLEXPR32.EXE or only on the SETUP.EXE that was extracted using the script file ?

Sefy on August 20, 2008

Hi SefyYes all the options you've asked about can be set in the script file. Here you go ...There is a section that begins with ADDLOCAL. Replication isn't a valid option for SQL Express so I assume you're trying to install SQL Express w/ Advanced Services? If so set the ADDLOCAL= section to something like the following:ADDLOCAL=SQL_EngineSQL_Data_FilesClient_ComponentsConnectivitySQL_SSMSEESDKThat will install the SQL Engine data files client components client connectivity management studio express and the SQL SDK. Note that SQL_SSMSEE is only valid for SQL Express w/ Advanced Services. Simply add 'Replication' to the list above if you *do* want to install replication (remember to comma-separate the options ...)For the default instance just set the INSTANCENAME= to the following:INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVERFor the browser service set the SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART= section to the following:SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1If you want SQL and the SQL Agent to auto start too set the above section to the following:SQLBROWSERAUTOSTART=1SQLAUTOSTART=1AGTAUTOSTART=1For mixed mode set the SECURITYMODE= section to the following:SECURITYMODE=SQLNote that if you configure your installation for mixed mode you also need to specify a strong SA password for example:SECURITYMODE=SQLSAPWD=sQ15Erv3RTo specify that the SQL Server service should use Local System as the credential set the SQLACCOUNT= section to the following:SQLACCOUNT=NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICEHope that helps.

chris on August 19, 2008

Maybe you can help cause i've pretty much give up :-/These are the settings i need:Uncheck for Hide the advanced configuration optionsEnable all features except Replicationi need it as Default InstanceUsing Local System and Use the build-in system accountI need both SQL Server and Browseand i need Mixed ModeIs it possible to do that in the script file ?

Sefy on August 19, 2008

Unattended installation of SQL Server 2005 Express

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