SQL Server Express 2008 Install Side-by-side w/ SQL 2005 Express Fails

Question

When I try to install a new instance of SQL Server 2008 Express on a development machine with SQL 2005 Express already up and running, the install validation fails because t

Answer 1

N.B. These notes are for SQL Server Express 2008 R2 (so Microsoft still haven't made this any easier). I also realise that I complicated things by installing 32-bit SQL Server Express 2005 and 64-bit SQL Server Express 2008.

I followed the steps by Josh Hinman above. Uninstalling the SQL Server Express 2005 "Workstation Components" was not enough. I required an uninstall of the 2005 Management Studio as well.

I also tried the Upgrade route that Josh Hinman suggested by clicking on the 'Upgrade from SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008'. This route never gave me the option of installing the components side-by-side it just went straight through the process of upgrading from 2005 to 2008. It completed successfully - but hadn't actually done anything. Thankfully though it hadn't harmed any existing database instances. So be warned trying that route.