SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 SP1 and Visual Studio 2008 Express

Posted August 13, 2008 5:57 AM Categories: .NET | Coding4Fun | Visual Studio | SQL Server

I ran into a bit of weirdness yesterday when trying to install SQL Server 2008.  I have Visual Studio 2008 installed as well as a couple of the Visual Studio 2008 Express products (for testing solutions for the Coding4Fun site and the upcoming book).  I installed Visual Studio 2008 SP1 and all went as planned.  After looking at the Help –> About screens, Visual Studio and all of the Express products showed the proper version tag:  9.030729.1 SP1.  So I figured all the products were updated and good to go.

Next I tried to install SQL Server 2008 and got an error stating Rule “Previous releases of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008” failed.  I re-installed SP1 figuring something had gone wrong, but no dice.  After digging through the SQL Server 2008 install logs I realized what was happening.  The installer was using the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DevDiv\XXX\Servicing\9.0\SP keys to determine if SP1 had been installed and the registry settings were set that it hadn’t been installed for the Express products.

So, I then installed the SP1 versions of all of the Express products (there apparently isn’t an SP1 update for these, you just install the new versions and they are upgraded), tried installing SQL Server 2008 once again, and it worked without a hitch.

In summary, the tip here is that if you have any of the Visual Studio Express products installed, you must install the SP1 versions of those products separately from Visual Studio 2008 SP1 in order to have them properly updated.  The SP1 package for Visual Studio 2008 does not actually update these applications and will block the client-side installation of SQL Server 2008.

Permalink | Comments (11)

Comments (11) -

Walter Knopf
Walter Knopf
8/14/2008 12:46:27 PM #

I had a named instance of SQL the latest 2008 express running.
Upgraded VS2008 C# Express to SP1, did not uncheck to install SQL 2008.
Now I have two services, SQLExpress and named instance, but in installed programs it only shows one.
Unfortunately my databases are attached to the named instance.
Any advice on how to revert to just the named instance?
Thanks,

Walter Knopf

Rob Kraft
4/4/2009 5:56:59 PM #

Thanks for this post!  I was a little frustrated that SQL 2008 was telling me I didn't have VS SP1 when I knew I did.  I was able to leave my SQL 2008 Setup on the screen telling me I needed VS SP1 while I upgraded my express instance of Vstudio 2008 also to SP1.  I guess I could probably uninstall VS 2008 express, since I have VS2005 express for XNA development.

Yoseph
Yoseph
5/8/2009 1:23:19 AM #

Simply customise the installer so that these components aren’t installed:

Management Tools
Integration Services
Business Intelligence Development Studio

Dick Bixler
Dick Bixler
5/15/2009 3:52:42 PM #

I have VS2008 SP1 installed on one computer, and SQL Express 2008 on another. When I attempt to set up a data connection in VS2008 to the SQL Express 2008 instance, I get a popup "This server version is not supported. Only servers up to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 are supported." Any idea why?

Couple of possibly relevant factiods: I do have SQL Express 2005 SP1 installed on the machine with VS2008 because I couldn't install 2008, same symptom as you noted altho I didn't have any known Express programs installed at the time. Also, the other computer hosting SQL Express 2008, is on Windows Home Server.

I guess that's two problems. Any advice would be appreciated.  Regards - Dick

Dick Bixler
Dick Bixler
5/26/2009 9:14:37 PM #

Manually re-installed SP1 for VS2008 and voila, problems solved. db

Sliceco
11/16/2009 12:39:57 PM #

I have been trying to work this problem out for hours. Installing and re-installing VS2008 SP1. Finally updated the VS Express editions and it worked like a charm. Thanks for the help

Rajesh
3/18/2010 11:44:51 AM #

Sir,i dunno who u r..pls help me... i am facing the problem of Previous releases of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008” failed while installin sql 2008...and asking for vs sp1, i dunno wr to download it n how to solve the prob.if you dont mind,pls give me a explanation in steps...

santy
santy
10/13/2010 7:52:12 AM #

I installed VS web express 2008 sp1 and sql server 2008 express edition on my windows 7 home and now
i installed vs 2008 professional and  after that VS 2008 Sp1 installed successfully however in the About Microsoft Visual Studio version is not showing as Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Version 9.0.30729.1 SP  please let me know why so..?

Dr. Dabai
10/24/2010 5:49:34 PM #

SOLVED!

Just simply remove all folders with this key:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DevDiv\XXX\Servicing\9.0\SP
XXX= VC, MSDN

Mickey
Mickey
11/15/2010 2:31:03 PM #

This worked for me perfect:

Yoseph wrote re: SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 SP1 and Visual Studio 2008 Express  
on Fri, May 8 2009 1:23 AM  
Simply customise the installer so that these components aren’t installed:
Management Tools  
Integration Services  
Business Intelligence Development Studio

Peppe
Peppe
5/24/2011 2:58:38 AM #

Hello, people.

In my case visual studio failed to install, uninstall and upgrade to sp1 due to undefined msi error. The only option was to remove the registry folder as Dr. Dabai recommended.

Thanks everyone!

Add comment

  Country flag

biuquote
  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading

My Info

  • View Brian Peek's profile on LinkedIn

Sponsored Ad

My Book

Sponsored Ad

Calendar

<<  February 2012  >>
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
303112345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728291234
567891011

View posts in large calendar