How can SQL Server 2005 Instances be manually removed (if uninstall does not clean them up)?
2 Answers
After long searches and trying to delete things from registry I found the following solution:
Delete SQLEXPRESS from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names
Delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1
Delete entire branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\90
To remove actual databases, delete folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1
Disclaimer: Use at your own risk.
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(Asked question and answered to document answer for future troubleshooters.)– DannyMar 15, 2011 at 15:28
Microsoft lists other cleanup steps to also consider on MSDN, besides those few registry keys to fully cleanup an instance of SQL Server 2005 manually - This may also help from a SQL Server 2005 Express standpoint -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967
This blog post has an alternate approach that I have not tried
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/astebner/archive/2005/09/13/465401.aspx And this
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Interesting, just deleting the registry keys only that you mention and not doing everything won't be as clean as following the KB article though, just FYI for anyone reading this thread. Mar 15, 2011 at 18:31
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Yeh, it is best to try the KB first. Then delete registry keys if that doesn't work.– DannyMar 17, 2011 at 11:29