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How to: Uninstall SQL Server Express

SQL Server 2005

In this topic, you will learn how to completely uninstall Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express).

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  2. Open Add or Remove Programs.

  3. Select Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and then click Remove.

  4. The Component Selection page appears. By default, the Remove SQL Server 2005 instance components check box is selected. Select the instance that you want to remove.

  5. To remove the Workstation components, select the Workstation Components check box.

  6. The Confirmation page appears, listing the components that will be removed. Click Finish to complete the process of uninstalling SQL Server Express.

    You will see the System Configuration Check and Setup Progress pages as the uninstall process is completed.

  7. To remove SQL Native Client, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.

  8. Select Microsoft SQL Native Client, and then click Remove.

  9. You will see a dialog box confirming whether you want to remove SQL Native Client. Click Yes.

    SQL Native Client is removed from the list of Add or Remove Programs.

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Manual uninstallation
Search for the file, template.ini, in the SQL Server Express installation folder. It contains command line parameters to remove instances of SQL Server.
; 4. Uninstall Default Standalone installation: (This removes all features of default SQL Server)
; start /wait setup.exe /qb REMOVE=ALL INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER 

Backup your system.
Backup your Registry (via System Restore)
Turn off your anti-virus program during uninstallation
Clean your temp files. One way is to download and run CCleaner, from CNET's download dot com website.
Consider testing Revo Uninstaller, which is also available from CNET's download dot com website.
Search for the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility on your favorite search engine.

Run the programs in the Administrator's role.

History
I agree with Jon
it seems I have 2 SQL's running on my server (2005 STD and EXPRESS) but there is no simple intiutive uninstall buttom anywhere. MS keep it simple !

[tfl - 05 06 10] Hi - and thanks for your post. You should post questions like this to the MSDN Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn or the MSDN Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quicker response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
.NET Framework : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.dotnet.framework
PowerShell     : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.powershell/topics?pli=1
SQL Server     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Visual Studio  : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.vstudio%2C&
Windows        : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
All Public     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&


History
Simply does NOT work
I've just tried to remove a SQL Server 2005 Express instance... the uninstaller says it's done, but the instance remains. That's more than annoying...

Microsoft should learn about Package Management... go on and please read www.maximumrpm.org

[tfl - 05 06 10] Hi - and thanks for your post. You should post questions like this to the MSDN Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn or the MSDN Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quicker response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
.NET Framework : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.dotnet.framework
PowerShell     : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.powershell/topics?pli=1
SQL Server     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Visual Studio  : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.vstudio%2C&
Windows        : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
All Public     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&


History
I can't get rid of SQL 2005 Express either
I can't get rid of SQL 2005 Express either. I remove the instance from the add remove panel but sql 2005 remains. WTF
\
[tfl - 05 06 10] Hi - and thanks for your post. You should post questions like this to the MSDN Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn or the MSDN Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quicker response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
.NET Framework : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.dotnet.framework
PowerShell     : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.powershell/topics?pli=1
SQL Server     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Visual Studio  : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.vstudio%2C&
Windows        : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
All Public     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&


History
When will we get an answer?
I recently ran into a problem that convinced me to uninstall and reinstall SQL Server Express 2005. I was running two separate instances but now I want to uninstall both. Even though they appeared to uninstall using Add/Remove Programs, an instance still exists. Not only can I not remove this instance but my password does not work on this instance.

HELP!!!!
[tfl - 05 06 10] Hi - and thanks for your post. You should post questions like this to the MSDN Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn or the MSDN Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quicker response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
.NET Framework : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.dotnet.framework
PowerShell     : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.powershell/topics?pli=1
SQL Server     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Visual Studio  : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.vstudio%2C&
Windows        : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
All Public     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&

History
Uninstall SQL Server Express fatal system error
When I try to ininstall the Express edition through control panel I get a fatal system error: C000021A. Help!!!!

[tfl - 05 06 10] Hi - and thanks for your post. You should post questions like this to the MSDN Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn or the MSDN Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quicker response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
.NET Framework : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.dotnet.framework
PowerShell     : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.powershell/topics?pli=1
SQL Server     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Visual Studio  : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.vstudio%2C&
Windows        : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
All Public     : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&


History
Uninstall is ALWAYS called SETUP
Why do MS insist on bundling installation and uninstallation routines together than leaving the names of actions the same "Windows is setting up this installation of SQL Server" = "SQL Server is being uninstalled".

Also since i am removing 2008 aswell, that says "Setup cannot continue without a reboot of your machine". .. . . .WHAT? Just remove stuff, i am not setting anything up.... perhaps this confusion is why i am getting rid of this database for another vendor???
History