A Step by Step guide to installing SQL Server 2008 simply and successfully with no prior knowledge:
Remember to install the .Net Framework 3.5
Before you start the installation, you’ll need to install the .Net 3.5 Framework. This comes pre-installed on Windows 2008 Server, but for earlier versions of Windows, you’ll need to install it first. This is a straightforward pre-requisite and is usually included as part of the SQL Server 2008 installation.Once this Framework in installed you can commence the installation of SQL Server
2008.
STEP 1 : Copy the installation files
First off I’d recommend you copy the entire directory structure from the SQL Server 2008 installation disc to the C: drive of the machine you are going to install it on.
Although this means you need to grab a cup of coffee whilst it’s copying, this has three advantages:
• It makes the installation process much faster than running it from CD/DVD once it gets started.
• It allows you to easily add or remove components later, without having to hunt around for the CD/DVD.
• If your media is damaged and a file won’t copy, you get to find out now, rather than halfway through the installation.
Here’s what my system looks like after the copy:
STEP 2 : Setup.exe
Double click on the setup.exe file.After a few seconds a dialog box appears:
This will disappear from the screen and then the main installation page appears:
STEP 3 : SQL Server Installation Center
Click on the Installation hyperlink on the left hand side of the screen:
STEP 4 : SQL Server Installation Center
The following dialog appears on the screen whilst the install program prepares for installation:
After a minute or so (the timing will vary according to your system), the following screen appears:
