The Disappearance of SQL Server Express
Microsoft’s Richard Waymire helps a reader locate an instance of SQL Server 2005 Express.
August 22, 2006
![The Disappearance of SQL Server Express The Disappearance of SQL Server Express](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt07f68461ccd75245/blt06fdf515234ddc5e/662776b7376dba1edbbdd9b5/sql-server-log-file-viewer-595x335_0_3.jpg?width=850&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
Q: I had SQL Server 2005 Express Edition installed along with Visual Studio 2005. Today, I installed SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition, but installed it as the default instance instead of as a named instance. Probably as a result of that installation, I’ve lost the Express Edition. Is it OK to install SQL Server Express on the same machine as the SQL Server Developer Edition?
Yes, I have them side by side on several machines. Are you sure you lost SQL Server Express? Look in the Administrative tools, Services menu. Typically, SQL Server Express is installed as a named instance called SQLEXPRESS, but you might not see the SQLEXPRESS named instance when SQL Server Management Studio first opens. When you see the instance, you simply need to establish a connection to Database EngineSQLExpress.
If you did overwrite your SQL Server Express instance during your installation of the Developer edition, then yes, you can add SQL Server Express as a named instance. Just download the Service Pack 1 (SP1) version at http://www.microsoft.com/sql
—Richard Waymire
Program Manager Architect
Visual Studio Team System
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