Here are a set of resources to use before installing the RTM versions of VS or the .NET Framework.
The main key is to uninstall SQL Express, VS, and MSDN *before* uninstall the .NET Framework.
If you don't, you will end up with some orphaned files in the GAC which will lead to package load failures. Aaron's blog has some suggestions on how to clean that up.
Tools and Tips on Uninstalling Previous VS 2005 Releases
Official: http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/uninstall/
Official: http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/uninstall/preRTMuninstall/default.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/11/09/491118.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/10/30/487096.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/10/27/485987.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/09/27/474744.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/07/01/434814.aspx
astebner: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/04/19/409555.aspx
ReadMe Documenation:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/readme/
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/teamsystem/readme.aspx
-Bret Grinslade
VS/.NET Setup Team

Upgrade from Beta2 to c#express released version
Dandan He
NewScience
anybody there who wants to help me out
HeavyMetalMan
I uninstalled all of the beta2 programs that I could find, and then ran the uninstall tool. The uninstall tool said there were pre-RTM components installed, but was unable to remove them. I installed C# Express successfully but am unable to install SQL Express. It gets most of the way through the installation, but then reports that "SQL Server Setup Failed to complete the Managed Object Format (MOF) file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlmgmproviderxpsp2up.mof".
What to do
Thanks,
Eric
PS. How do I read the replies to this post
GENOOO
Checkout another post on this forum detailing similar registration problems - hopefully, some of those suggestions will help: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx PostID=103653&SiteID=1
Also, have you looked at the Registration FAQ http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/register/faq/default.aspx
Thanks,
Ravenna
xappie
Quentin Lee
Hello guys!!
I am having problem in installing Visual C# 2005 express on my pc (windows xp with service pack2).as soon as I run setup.exe , setup aborts after cpying files.I am getting frust after many attempts . Please Help me out.
Thanks in advance.
orokulus
Joe Farah
In the end, the installer told me i had to install service pack 2.
The problem with SP2 is that it doesn't work on my computer (windows won't boot but in safe mode).
I managed to uninstall SP2, but i'm now left without any working msvc version. Hopefully, i have gcc as a replacement.
I wish Microsoft did more testing on their upgrade system. It's always so risky and painful to upgrade that I often delay any upgrade until it's absolutely necessary, which leaves no time for failures.
Andrew Sears - T4G
Greg Shaffer
salm
IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING JUST CONTACT ME TO SEE IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU OUT THE SAMEWAY YOU, HAVE HELPED ME, YOU KNOW THE E-MAIL ADDRESS PLEASE EXCEOPT MY MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP WITH MY PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER!!!
YOUR KINDLY & RELIEVED GREATLY
RED SNOOKIE
Alexander Bunakov
I've gone from Beta2 to the release version of c# express and a project now is doing really weird stuff. Lots of error messages and warnings to do with the code produced by the designer. I started to debug - duplicate names where previously there had been none but found myself going round in circles - things I'd fixed came back - sometimes it built, then it wouldn't.
So i've stopped, this reminds me of the weird stuff that happened when moving from beta1 to beta2 which was fixed by an unisnstall tool but this time I was really careful following the uninstall instructions (Once bitten twice shy!).
Any advice on what to do next Uninstall c# express follow the beta manual uninstall procedure, reinstall, different order, different things
Any and all advice greatfully received.
Thanks
Steve