Install Sql Server Express 64-bit On 64-Bit Windows Vista

There was a discussion recently at the MSDN forums where I was participating in a thread that discussed about installing 64-bit SQL Express Editions on Vista 64-bit. You can check the thread over here. I thought to record the important points in this blog. There is also a similar thread which discusses about the issues while installing SQL Express 64-bit over here.

SQLEXPR.EXE or SQLEXPR_ADV.EXE, are the full installers that support x64 systems. In order to download 64bit versions of SQL Express, check these links:

For the 64-bit install of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, click here
For the 64-bit install of SQL Server Management Studio Express, click here

Steps to install SQL Express 64-bit on a Vista 64-bit machine:

1. Go to Add/Remove programs and check for an entry for SQL Native client. If there exists one, uninstall.
2. Install the 64-bit of SQL native client from over here X64 Package
3. Then download the Express Editions and Management Studio from the links given at the top.

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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