Getting Started with SQL Server 2005 Eval Version

I have been running SQL Server 2005 Express with the Management Studio Express. I just downloaded and installed the Eval (Trial) version of SQL Server 2005 but have not been able to get it working. Here are a couple of questions:

1. Is there a potential confict with having both versions on my machine. I don't want to uninstall express since I may have to do back to it in 180 days.

2. Is there a program comparable to the Management Studio for the Eval version of SQL Server 2005?

3. How do I access the Eval version? I found the folder where it installed on my C drive but don't know what to do with it.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

I installed the trial last December and it is the easiest SQL Server I have installed so the question is what did you do? This is the second SQL Server in your box so it should be a named instance which means you must provide a name during installation and after you choose components the product self install. So tell what did you do?|||

Hi Caddre:

I downloaded the setup to a folder (default location) on my system drive (C:SQLEVAL). Within that folder there are two folders (Servers, Tools). I ran the setup from within the Servers folder. I checked the default named instance box and the setup installed. I did not run the setup from the Tools folder as the files looked the same and the Wizard looked the same - like it was going to reinstall SQLServer).

My computer name is "Dual". When I open SQL Management Studio Express and am asked to connect, the dropdown menu provides three SQL database options: Dual\SQLExpress, Dual\SQLExpress2, and Dual. I am wondering if the "Dual" server is the eval version but cannot find anything different from the SQL Express versions and the About menu doesn't state anything different that I can see.

Within the Program Files folder the Microsoft SQL Server folder has a new folder named "MSSQL.4" which I think was added with the Eval Install.

At this point my questions are:

1. Assuming that the Eval version installed correctly, should I be able to open it from within Management Studio Express? Or is there a different or better way to access it?

2. Should I have run the setup program in the Tools folder as well as from the Setup Folder?

3. I have not yet run Service Pack 1. Will that make a difference?

4. How can I tell if the "Dual" instance of SQL Server is the Eval version?

Thanks for any help you can provide in helping me get this going.

|||What you are describing sound like the crappy beta product I used so you have to run the tools setup separately because the Management Studios are in the tools folder, when you have installed that at the top of the Management Studio of the full version right click and register the Express. I am sorry this one is very hard to install it is harder than 2000. That changed with the release product why they went back to this crappy setup I don't know because my project was in Oracle. Post again if you still have questions. Hope this helps.