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1.

Download the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

Before you complete a Microsoft SQL Server download and install any member of the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition family, you must install the .NET Framework 2.0.

2.

Uninstall beta versions

Before you complete a Microsoft SQL Server download and install any members of the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition family, you must uninstall any previous Beta, CTP or Tech Preview versions of SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and the .NET Framework 2.0.

3.

Download and install

There are various downloads available in the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition family to allow you to customize your installation. Please see the Product Comparison page for details on what each Microsoft SQL Server download package contains.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP2

Not sure what you need from your Microsoft SQL Server download and want to get started quickly? Download the SQL Server Express database engine and Management Studio Express.

Install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the free, easy-to-use, lightweight version of SQL Server 2005. Integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server Express makes it easy to develop data-driven applications that are rich in capability, offer enhanced storage security, and are fast to deploy. SQL Server Express is free to redistribute and can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

Download * (36.5 MB)

SQL Server Management Studio Express

SQL Server Management Studio Express is installed by running the setup program for either SQL Server Express with Advanced Services or SQL Server Express Toolkit. Before you install SQL Server Management Studio Express, you must install MSXML 6.0.

Download ** (43.1 MB)

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services SP2

Do you want SQL Server Express with all the additional development tools? Download SQL Server Express with Advanced Services and the SQL Server Express Toolkit.

Install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services

In addition to the features of SQL Server Express, certain additional capabilities are also available as part of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services (SQL Server Express). SQL Server Express with Advanced Services contains the following features:


SQL Server Management Studio Express, a graphical management tool based on SQL Server Management Studio that makes it easy to manage and administer SQL Server Express databases.

Reporting Services, an integrated report creation and design environment to create reports.

Full-Text Search, a powerful search engine for searching text-intensive data.


Download (234 MB)

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit

SQL Server Express Toolkit provides tools and resources to manage Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, and to create reports by using SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services. The kit includes Connectivity Components, Business Intelligence Development Studio, Management Studio Express, and a Software Development Kit. To create reports by using Reporting Services, you must use Business Intelligence Development Studio.

Download (223.9 MB)

4.

Install Additional Components

Besides the features and components that are installed with your Microsoft SQL Server download by running the setup programs for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services, you can also install the following components:

a. SQL Server 2005 Samples

The AdventureWorks sample database and programming samples work with SQL Server Express, but are not installed with SQL Server Express. To learn more about working with SQL Express, download the samples. Be sure to read the SQL Server 2005 Databases and Samples Overview.htm file to learn which Samples are applicable for SQL Server Express.

Download (25.4 MB)

b. SQL Server 2005 Books Online

The information in the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Books Online has been incorporated into the full version of the SQL Server 2005 Books Online starting with the April 2006 update of SQL Server 2005 Books Online. You should use the SQL Server 2005 Books Online as the primary source of documentation for SQL Server Express.

After installing Books Online, you can use the SQL Server Express filter in the Contents pane to hide the content that does not apply to SQL Server Express edition. For more information about SQL Server Express documentation, see the topic "Using SQL Server Express Books Online".

Download (135 MB)

5.

Register

Register SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and you will receive additional benefits with your Microsoft SQL Server download such as royalty-free images from Corbis. Learn more about registration benefits.

* For the 64-bit install of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, click here

** For the 64-bit install of SQL Server Management Studio Express, click here

Need Help?

Having problems with your Microsoft SQL Server download or with installing SQL Server Express? See the Support area on this site or the SQL Server Express Forums for troubleshooting tips and answers to common questions. You can report bugs and provide feedback about SQL Express in the MSDN Product Feedback Center.