I have been using web matrix with Access 2003 to develop a database driven web application with the guidance of wrox asp.net 1.1 and then onto wrox professional asp.net 2.0 and have been very happy with the results. I have been making the natural transition from web matrix to visual studio and from Access to sql server 2005.

I have recently purchased sql server 2005 developer edition and would like to install it on my laptop which runs windows xp. I am unsure of how to install sql server 2005. Should I simply upgrade the sql server express which comes with visual studios or install sql server 2005 as the default. Clearly this may seem obvious to many but I'm hoping to avoid some frustration and get up to speed with working both sql server 2005 in the visual studio environment.

Much thanks ahead of time.

Lucy

In my opinion you should uninstall the sql server express edition ( save your databases) then first install the SQL 2005 and then Visual Studio 2005 after. During Visual Studio 2005 installation the Express Edition will not install correctly as the default, therefore use the name instance.

Jaime E. Maccou

Thank you for your response.

I have actually already installed visual studio and the sql express version installs automatically with it. I would now like to install the developer version of sql. My options if I remember are to update the express version which would maintain the name instance of the express version which installed with visual studio. The other option is to install the developer version of sql as the default. I was worried about problems with visual studio automatically using the express version installed. I could uninstall the express version first and then install the developer version or have both or just upgrade the express version. I guess it boils down to whether it is important to have a default versus a name instance associated with visual studio. What do you think.

I apologize for the elementary nature of this discussion. I have read of problems with the installation process and was hoping to avoid them. Much of this may become obvious once I get my hands dirty.

Thank again

Lucy