Updated: 5 December 2005

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 can be installed through use of the Installation Wizard, or from the command prompt. The Installation Wizard provides a graphical user interface that guides you through each install-time decision, and is the preferred method for most users. The Installation Wizard provides guidance for initial setup of SQL Server 2005, including feature selection, instance naming rules, service account configuration, strong password guidelines, and scenarios for setting collations.

Command prompt installations are for advanced scenarios like silent installations; they can be run directly from the command prompt, or from command prompt syntax that references an installation file to specify installation options.

To ensure a successful installation experience, review the following requirements before you install SQL Server 2005:

• Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2005
  
• Check Parameters for the System Configuration Checker
  
• Security Considerations for a SQL Server Installation
  

To install SQL Server 2005 components using the SQL Server 2005 Installation Wizard, see:

• How to: Install SQL Server 2005 (Setup)
  
• How to: Create a New SQL Server 2005 Failover Cluster (Setup)
  

To install SQL Server 2005 components from the command prompt, see:

• How to: Install SQL Server 2005 from the Command Prompt
  
• Remote Setup Information for SQL Server 2005
  

To upgrade from a previous SQL Server version, see:

• Version and Edition Upgrades
  
• Upgrading to SQL Server 2005
  

To add or remove SQL Server 2005 components using the SQL Server 2005 Installation Wizard, see:

• How to: Change Components in an Existing Instance of SQL Server 2005 (Setup)
  

See Also