MS SQL Server 2008 Express - Caution!

The standard installation of Time Matters 10 gives you the option to install MS SQL Server 2005 Express. The process has been trouble-free for the large majority of customers. But you may want to put a more recent version, 2008, on your computer. See our guide, Conversion to Version 10, for more information about your options when moving to Time Matters 10.

At this writing, you can install MS SQL Server 2008 Express with SP1, but then you cannot install SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express, a program that is important for configuring Time Matters 10. Trying to do so generates a compatibility error message and the installation fails. To avoid this problem, you have two options:

  1. Install SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express first and then install MS SQL Server 2008 Express. It seems backwards, but it works.
  2. Use the Microsoft Web Platform Installer to install both programs together, one after the other. It may still generate an error message, but has been successful.

To install MS SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express:

Open Microsoft Internet Explorer (not FireFox)
Go to:
http://www.asp.net/downloads

Click on Web Platform Installer
 
  Click: Get the Web Platform
  Press: Run, Run
  Click the yellow bar that appears at the top of the window
  Press Run
  Press Allow
  The Web Platform Installer window appears
  Uncheck: Install ASP.NET
  Click the Web Platform item to the left
    In Web Platform,
    Starting with "Web Server," click every link that says:  Click to remove ...
    For Database, click Customize
    Select only SQL Server 2008 Express
        and  SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express
    Click Install
      Press:  I Accept
    Select:  Mixed Mode
        Enter a password (for sa - the system admin for SQL Server)
        Press Continue
    If a Compatibility warning appears, select Run Program
    Press Finish
    
Open SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express from the Start Menu.