Deleting instances

  • I have been trying to install SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer edition on my work laptop and have run into some issues. Each time I have attempted an install, I had to create a new instance. Now I have 5 instances, and I just want to have 1. Can I simply just delete the folders where the instances were created?

  • SQL Instances run as windows services.

    so what you must do is deleted the services as follows:-

    ON THE COMMAND PROMPT RUN THESE COMMANDS.

    sc delete MSSQLSERVER

    run sc delete commdand for all SQL Server services existing on services.msc.

    After that you can then remove the folders, then also go and remove the sqlserver registry entries by running regedit.

    After this you should be able to make a clean install.

  • THE-FHA (2/16/2011)


    SQL Instances run as windows services.

    so what you must do is deleted the services as follows:-

    ON THE COMMAND PROMPT RUN THESE COMMANDS.

    sc delete MSSQLSERVER

    run sc delete commdand for all SQL Server services existing on services.msc.

    After that you can then remove the folders, then also go and remove the sqlserver registry entries by running regedit.

    After this you should be able to make a clean install.

    I would not recommend following this advice. You can uninstall an instance of SQL Server using the Add/Remove applet from Control Panel. Click on remove and it will walk you through uninstalling the instances that you no longer want.

    This will take care of removing the folders, registry entries, etc...

    Jeffrey Williams
    “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”

    ― Charles R. Swindoll

    How to post questions to get better answers faster
    Managing Transaction Logs

  • Why did you *have* to create a new instance with each new install, out of interest? I've never run into that issue.

  • Like Jeffrey Williams mentioned is the correct way to remove an instance.

    but wondering why you trying to install SQL server and failing (assuming you are failing)

    and still end up with 5 instances

  • Just for Curosity :-D:-D

    R u able to login on all the 5 instances....

    ( i think that u will not.. and all the instances will not be a complete installation.

  • paul.knibbs (2/17/2011)


    Why did you *have* to create a new instance with each new install, out of interest? I've never run into that issue.

    I had to resolve registry permission issues, and each time I went to install, I couldn't overwrite an existing install, and repair wouldn't work because installation failed each time, so I tried creating a new instance for each installation.

    I never got through a complete installation without a failure or the installer crashing. But, after I resolved the permission issue for the registry keys, I was able to start one of the last instances I created. Now I want to remove all the others from the failed installs.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply