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 SQL Server Administration (2005)
 Unable to remove SQL

Author  Topic 

rudnicke
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-10 : 09:23:34
I'm stuck. I'm a noob when it comes to SQL (learning as I go, reading books, etc). I've been trying to setup SQL on a Windows 2003 server, and there is a bit of an issue.

There is already an instance of SQL on the server. Someone before me tried to install SQL, and for some reason removed it. However, the default instance still exists on the machine, and I am unable to install SQL 2005 on it now. Setup keeps throwing back errors. There is nothing listed in the Add/Remove programs to remove the old Default Instance. Is there some way I can completely strip SQL off this machine so I can do a fresh install?

I googled a few articles about using the SQL tools to do a forced remove, but it did not work in this situation.

SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks

30421 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-10 : 09:45:20
I usually start with RegEdit and remove all entries related to SQL Server.
I do not recommend this method because you must know what you are doing.



E 12°55'05.25"
N 56°04'39.16"
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khtan
In (Som, Ni, Yak)

17689 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-10 : 09:49:52
better follow this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967


KH
[spoiler]Time is always against us[/spoiler]

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rudnicke
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-13 : 09:54:47
Thanks for the link. That worked very well.

I do still have one problem. When I try to re-install a default instance of SQL 2005, I get an error during install that an instance with that name already exists.

I would change the name, but the software that we are installing that requires SQL requires using the default instance.

How do I remove the reference to that instance?

Thanks.
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks

30421 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-13 : 09:58:06
Did you do a restart after following the steps in the link?



E 12°55'05.25"
N 56°04'39.16"
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rudnicke
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-13 : 10:00:13
Yes. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have mentioned that in the last post.

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rmiao
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7266 Posts

Posted - 2008-03-13 : 23:01:19
Ensure there is no sql server key in registry.
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mdubey
Posting Yak Master

133 Posts

Posted - 2008-05-26 : 21:03:46
First you can uninstall the SQL server.

Follow the steps...

1) Go to Controll Pannel
2) select on Add/Remove programmes
3) select SQL server (Version)
4) Click on remove button.
5) After remove reboot your server
6) If you want to install SQL again you can again reinstall SQL
7) If you are getting an error that SQL is already exist then you have to remove SQL from registry as well.

Again make sure you have to reboot the server.



Manoj
MCP, MCTS
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sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-05-26 : 21:59:34
Manoj,
Everybody knows the step what you have mentioned. Peso has already suggested to remove from registry.Not good to repeat samething over and over again.
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