Downloading SQL Server Express
To begin the installation, download the latest version of SQL Server available. (Currently SQL Server 2017)
- Navigate to the SQL Server 2017 Download. (For SQL Express)
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-editions-express
- The download link will download a downloader.
- Open the downloader once complete.
- Select 'Download Media from the Downloader Utility.
- Verify the Language is English.
- Change the download option to Express Advanced.
- Specify the intended download location.
- Select 'Download' to start downloading.
Installing Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL)
- Open the directory that the download was completed to.
- Run the SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe as administrator.
- This will extract to a folder and auto-run the SQL Server Installation Center.
- If it does not auto-run after extracting. Open the folder created and run setup.exe
- From the SQL Server Installation Center select the following option
- 'New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation'
- Accept the license terms and select Next.
- SQL will verify the setup Files and Install Rules.
- If .Net 3.5 or .Net 4.5 are missing, please see the installation steps linked below.1
- If any rules are in the 'Warning' or 'Failed' state, click on the link under Status to see cautionary notes or how to fix details.
- Under feature selection, leave all options as default. If options are suspect as being not default, verify they are set as marked below.
- Verify the installation paths are set as desired and select Next.
- Even when changing all installation paths to a separate Data drive, it still will need to install certain items to the OS (C:) drive.
- Change the Instance Configuration to 'Default Instance' and select Next.
Important! DO NOT leave the instance configured as a named instance. This creates extra steps for installation and configuration that will not be documented as the proper installation procedures.
- If a customer desires to have a named instance, let them know this is outside of our standard installation process and additional charges may be necessary. Additionally, notify a senior technician of the change in installation process.
- Verify the Database Engine is set to 'Automatic' startup type.
- Select the collation tab located at the top of the install.
- Verify the Collation is set exactly to SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS.
Important! Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS is not valid and must have the legacy "SQL_" prefix!
- Select Next.
- Change the Database Authentication mode to Mixed Mode.
- Specify a password for the SQL Server system administrator (sa) account and note it on the customer system profile. (Should be randomly generated for security purposes)
- Create a new MSSQL user for an additional SQL Server Administrator.
- Open a 'run' dialog and run "lusrmgr.msc"
- Open the Users Folder
- Right click in the middle window and select "New User..."
- Enter in the details as follows, the password should be random generated and noted on the customer system profile.
- Once selecting Create, the User should now show within the Users Listing.
- Right click on the user and select Properties.
- Select the Member Of tab and select Add...
- Verify the location is set to the machine name or localhost.
- Type in Administrators and select 'Check Names'
- Select Ok, and then OK to clsoe out the MSSQL user properties window.
- Close the lusrmgr dialog window and proceed to the next steps.
- Add the MSSQL user to the SQL Server administrators list.
- Add any additional users that need to be SQL Administrators.
- Select Next.
- Select Accept and Next to any additional windows until SQL is installing.
- Once the installation is complete select Finish and/or Close.
Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
- Open the SQL Server Installation Center.
- If closed, it can be ran by running SETUP.exe from the downloaded installation files.
- Select 'Install SQL Server Management Tools'.
- From the webpage that opens, select Download to start downloading SSMS.
- Once the download is complete, run the installer fir SQL Server Management Studio.
- Select Install to start the process.
The installation of SQL is complete, you can now install the software that uses SQL server.
