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Can't Uninstall SQL 2005

  • January 27, 2009 at 9:35 am

    #204548

    We installed SQL 2005 on a VM server, but didn't change the default location of the system databases from C to E. So I thought I'd uninstall SQL and try again. I went to Add/Remove programs, removed everything SQL related, rebooted, verified no SQL components showed up under Add/Remove, but SQL is still installed. I can start it from the Programs menu and all the system databases are still there. I can't reinstall because it tells me everything is already installed.

    How do I remove it ?? Stop the services & delete the whole folder ?

  • January 27, 2009 at 9:46 am

    #933308

    First, a piece of advice. Save off a copy of your VM before you install anything for reasons like this. So save off windows VM before installing SQL, then save a 2nd copy after SQL installed.

    There are a lot of add-remove items for SQL Server 2005. Be sure they're all gone. Make sure SQL is stopped and then you can delete the folders, but you might also whack the registry key. Reboot and then reinstall.

  • January 27, 2009 at 9:51 am

    #933318

    I found this, which seems to address my problem:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967 (What a convoluted PIA !!)

  • January 27, 2009 at 10:16 am

    #933343

    homebrew01 (1/27/2009)

    I found this, which seems to address my problem:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967 (What a convoluted PIA !!)

    Oh boy... If such article is there it is because several ( maybe a lot) people have seen this thing happen!

    Good Luck,


    * Noel

  • January 27, 2009 at 11:06 am

    #933393

    I started working my way through the article, removing registry settings, and got an error. The article said if I get that error to call microsoft support .... Good thing this is a test box, I'm just going to rebuild the whole damn thing and start over instead.ole purpose of this was to get the system databases on the correct drives. Rebuilding master etc would have been easier.

  • January 27, 2009 at 11:27 am

    #933412

    Hehe ... Don't mean to laugh but I sounded too good to be true for M$ 😀


    * Noel

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