I captured some screen shots while configuring Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express edition for use with Sitecore, both running on a single 32-bit Microsoft Windows Vista host. This configuration may not be appropriate for production.

First I had to download the Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable.

You may have to install Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1. If you don’t have Visual Studio 2008, you may need to install .NET 3.5 Service Pack 1. I haven’t hear from anyone still using Visual Studio 2005 or upgrading from SQL 2005.

Then I ran SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools (SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe). The process was relatively straightforward:

I must have clicked Installation:

I clicked New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation:

I clicked OK:

I clicked Next:

I selected the checkbox, and then clicked Next:

I clicked Install:

I investigated the Windows Firewall warning, which was irrelevant because only localhost will access the databases, and then clicked Next:

I selected Database Engine Services and Management Tools – Basic, and then clicked Next:

I clicked Next:

I clicked Next:

I selected the NETWORK SERVICE user for the SQL Server Database Engine service, and then clicked Next:

I selected Mixed Mode, entered a password for the default sa user, clicked Add Current User, and then clicked Next:

As a developer, I would select both checkboxes, but for most users I would leave them blank, and then click Next:

I clicked Next:

I clicked Install:

I clicked Next:

I clicked Close.

I rebooted.

I visited http://www.windowsupdate.com to get patches, and then rebooted again.

I thought the SQL Server 2008 Express installation process was relatively simple and painless, but I am familiar with Sitecore and SQL 2005 (and even 2000). I hope I didn’t miss any important steps, but if I did it was most likely an option to enable or disable advanced configuration options in the installation user interface.