If I recall correctly, the version of SQL Server Express that is found on Visual Studio Pro is the December 2005 CTP. Since SQL Server Express is now a released product, complete with download and several versions, what is the CORRECT process to update SQL Server Express to the release version and have that version work correctly with Visual Studio 2005 Professional.
The reason that I am asking is that I am finding a lot of problems that are data access related within Visual Studio after I installed the release version of SQL Server Express, following those instructions, which were to uninstall any previous versions of the product.
Many thanks,
Flavelle
Visual Studio 2005 and Release version of SQL Server Express
denisemc
Solved it myself, but I'm not sure that this solution is available to everyone.
Uninstall Visual Studio completely and make sure that all components of SQL Server Express CTP are uninstalled. If not, then you will have to uninstall them one-by-one. For guidance, print out the page that is produced when Visual Studio is successfully uninstalled.
Install Visual Studio, using a custom install and make sure that the SQL Express item is NOT CHECKED. You do not want to install this in any way.
Once Visual Studio is reinstalled, then install the release version of SQL Server Express.
I restarted my workstation at this point.
When rebooted, I started Visual Studio and performed the following test:
1. Started a new website - file based, name and location are not important. Make sure that the site does not exist.
2. On the website solution, click the App_Data folder, then right click and select Add New Item.
3. On the add new item dialog, select SQL Database. The name is not important.
4. Select OK (or whatever the button is called). This will return you to the solution.
5. In a moment, your new database should appear under the App_Data folder. If it does not, you will get an error.
6. If you do not get an error, then things should be okay.
Word of warning - I've been playing with this problem for 4 days. I finally ended up doing a reformat of hard drive and re-installing software. The steps above were done on a clean machine. I do not know if they will work on a machine where you simply uninstall both Visual Studio and SQL Server Express.
Regards,
Flavelle
Clint.
quick_jack
I think that if you uninstall Visual Studio completely (make sure that you follow all of the directions, including uninstalling the stuff that needs to be manually uninstalled after you have uninstalled Visual Studio) and SQL Server Express (again make sure you follow all of the directions), then do the custom install of Visual Studio that I mention in my previous post, then install SQL Server, that should do the job for you.
Failing that, I don't have any other suggestions - other than to tell you that I found out the hard way that the back up and restore on Windows One Care works very well - so you may want to make sure that all of your data is backed up somewhere safe in case you need to do the dreaded deed - reformat your hard drive and re-install everything.
Sorry I can't be more help.
Regards,
Flavelle