Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Management Studio Express

Brief Description

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express is a free, integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server, as well as combining a broad group of graphical tools and rich script editors that provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels.

Overview

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express (SSMSE) is an integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server. SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express combines a broad group of graphical tools with a number of rich script editors to provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels. Developers get a familiar experience, and database administrators get a single comprehensive utility that combines easy-to-use graphical tools with rich scripting capabilities.

For more information about SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express, including other versions and downloadable components now available, see Microsoft SQL Server Express.

For information about the different editions of SQL Server 2008, see the Editions page.

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System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2; Windows Server 2008; Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Vista; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Service Pack 3

32-Bit Systems: Computer with Intel or compatible 1GHz or faster processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported)
64-Bit Systems: 1.4 GHz or higher processor (2 GHz or faster is recommended. Only a single processor is supported)
Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended)
1 GB of free hard disk space

Note: There is no support in this release for Windows XP Embedded Edition.

For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the install process displays the “Program Compatibility Assistant” dialog indicating that you must apply SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 or later. Select the option to “Run Program” to continue. Future releases of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio Express will not have this problem.
Connecting to Visual Studio 2005 requires downloading and installing Visual Studio 2005 Support for SQL Server 2008, Community Technology Preview.

Please read important information in the Release Notes before installing SQL Server 2008 with Visual Studio 2008.

To learn more about what is required to run SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express, see the system requirements page.

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Instructions

Note: You must have administrative rights on the computer to install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express.

We recommended that you read the Release Notes and Readme before installing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express.

Step 1: Download and install Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1.

Step 2 Download and install Windows Installer 4.5.
.
Step 3 Download and install Windows PowerShell 1.0.

Note: For help on installing Windows Powershell 1.0 see the following KB articles:

926139: English PowerShell 1.0 for Windows

926140: Localized PowerShell 1.0 for Windows XP and Windows 2003

926141: Multilanguage User Interface for PowerShell 1.0 for Windows XP and Windows 2003

928439: PowerShell 1.0 for Vista (includes all languages)

Step 4: Download SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express by clicking the appropriate link later on this page. To start the installation immediately, click Run. To install SQL Server Express at a later time, click Save.

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Additional Information

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express is available for x86 and x64 systems. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express is not supported on IA64 systems.

See SQL Server Books Online for detailed information on installing and using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express

If you have questions about Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express, visit the SQL Server 2008 forums on MSDN.

Building and shipping applications with SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools or SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express? Sign up for free redistribution rights here.

Help improve Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express by submitting bugs to Microsoft Connect Feedback.

Setup issues – Use Setup
SQL Server Management Studio issues – Use Tools (SSMS, Agent, Profiler, Migration, etc.)
Database Engine related issues with Express editions – Use SQL Express

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