I just installed the full version of VS 2008 and I have a question

I just did a full install of visual studio 2008 and one of the things that was installed was a SQL Server 2005 configuration utility. I also have a dvd for SQL server 2005 developer edition, but I was confused on a few things and decided to check here before installing sql server 2005 developer edition.

1) what is the difference between the developer edition and what visual studio installed?

2) during the installation program of sql server 2005 developer edition, it warned me that to change versions of sql server 2005, I needed to start it at the command prompt? how?

After seeing that warning, I backed out of the sql server developer edition installation....

VS installs SQL Server Express. It's a cut-down edition of SQL Server and VS only installs the database engine because it's intended to be used through the VS IDE. If you install the Developer Edition you get the full SQL Server, plus you can also install Management Studio, Reporting Services, etc.

You certainly can have both SQL Server and SQL Server Express installed and there are advantages to doing so. I usually install both but I generally install Express second. It shouldn't be a problem though, as long as you use different instance names. It's usually a good idea to use SQLExpress as the instance name for SQL Server Express and then use a default instance for the full version.

I got lost reading your response when you mentioned instance names. I am not clear on what you meant, or how to go about creating one for SQL Express.

thanks

When SQLExpress installs it installs with a named instance by default (\SQLEXPRESS).

When you install SQL Server you can install it more then once the default for the first install is without a name (just the machine name will connect to the database). If you install a second SQL server on the same machine (if the first install if you want, or install SQLExpress) you name the next install. When you connect to a named instance of SQL Server you use machine name\SQL Server instance name.