SQL Server 2005 Express setup...

So anyway I decided it's about time I start installing SQL Server 2005 Express wherever I can, instead of MSDE. There are a lot of changes in the installer from MSDE. Aside from the thousands of parameters, there are some other fundamental changes like INSTANCENAME being a required parameter and 3 user accounts are required to install the core SQL_Engine component.

So here is how to automate that:

1. First create an ini file, lets call it 'sqlsetup.ini'
2. Copy the following into sqlsetup.ini

[Options]
INSTALLSQLDIR=E:\SQLEXPRESSADDLOCAL=SQL_Engine,SQL_Data_Files,SQL_Replication,Client_Components,Connectivity
INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER
SQLBROWSERACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE"
SQLACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM"
AGTACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE"
SQLAUTOSTART=1
SAPWD=P@ssw0rd
DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=2

3. That's it - you should now be able to run a silent unattended setup with:

start /wait setup.exe /qb /settings D:\sqlsetup.ini