SQL Server 2008 installed, though running version is still 2005

Question

A while back I installed SQL Server 2008 on a development machine which already had Sql Server 2005 express from Visual Studio. When I look in my programs, I see \'Microsoft Sql

Answer 1

If you want to find all the instance names, one way is to run powershell and execute the following

PS C:\> gwmi win32_service -filter "name like 'MSSQL%'" | fl DisplayName, pathname

For me the result is

DisplayName : SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)
pathname    : "c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\B
              inn\sqlservr.exe" -sSQLEXPRESS

DisplayName : SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS2005)
pathname    : "c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Binn\sqlserv
              r.exe" -sSQLEXPRESS2005

DisplayName : SQL Full-text Filter Daemon Launcher (MSSQLSERVER)
pathname    : "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\
              Binn\fdlauncher.exe" -s MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER

DisplayName : SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)
pathname    : "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\
              Binn\sqlservr.exe" -sMSSQLSERVER

DisplayName : SQL Server Active Directory Helper
pathname    : "c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqladhlp90.exe"

DisplayName : SQL Active Directory Helper Service
pathname    : "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Shared\SQLADHLP.EXE"

DisplayName : SQL Server Analysis Services (MSSQLSERVER)
pathname    : "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSAS10.MSSQLSERVER\OLAP\bi
              n\msmdsrv.exe" -s "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSAS10.M
              SSQLSERVER\OLAP\Config"

Look for the one that has MSSQL10 and make sure that the service is started. Then use that instance name when connecting via SSMS.

If for some reason you didn't install into the default structure you can always visit the Exe directly and check its version for something like 2007.100.xxx

I happen to have 2005 and 2008 express as well as 2008 standard

If I was better at PowerShell I would have piped the PathName to get the version info

Answer 2

If your using the SQL Server 2005 Configuration Manager you will only see 2005 instances and lower.

To view instances of SQL Server 2008 you will want to make sure you are using SQL Sever 2008 Configuration Manager.

The final option would be to View All services using the Service Control Manager. Here you will need to look at what instances of SQL Server you have running on the machine.