Hi,

I keep getting this error message when imtrying to install sql 2005
express :

An instance with the same name is already installed on this computer.
To proceed with SQL Server Setup, provide a unique instance name.

It says provide a unique instance name but during the installation
process nowhere does it ask for an installation name so there is no
way of providing one.

The instance that is already installed is somehow currupt (half
installed) but cant seem to fully uninstall it, its really a nightmare.

puma75 wrote:
> Hi,
>
Hellow


> I keep getting this error message when imtrying to install sql 2005
> express :
>
> An instance with the same name is already installed on this computer.
> To proceed with SQL Server Setup, provide a unique instance name.
>
> It says provide a unique instance name but during the installation
> process nowhere does it ask for an installation name so there is no
> way of providing one.
>
> The instance that is already installed is somehow currupt (half
> installed) but cant seem to fully uninstall it, its really a nightmare.
>

You can uninstall instance manually have a look to those articles
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa337087.aspx

and then try again . I'm sure you can choose instance name in the
wizzard window. also you can use command prompt installation to choose
instance mode http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143793.aspx
Start /wait <CD or DVD Drive>\servers\setup.exe /qb
INSTANCENAME=<InstanceName> .....

regards
SW

On Oct 11, 10:55 pm, Sebastian Waksmundzki <sebw...@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:
> puma75 wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> Hellow
>
> > I keep getting this error message when imtrying to install sql 2005
> > express :
>
> > An instance with the same name is already installed on this computer.
> > To proceed with SQL Server Setup, provide a unique instance name.
>
> > It says provide a unique instance name but during the installation
> > process nowhere does it ask for an installation name so there is no
> > way of providing one.
>
> > The instance that is already installed is somehow currupt (half
> > installed) but cant seem to fully uninstall it, its really a nightmare.
>
> You can uninstall instance manually have a look to those articleshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa337087.aspx
>
> and then try again . I'm sure you can choose instance name in the
> wizzard window. also you can use command prompt installation to choose
> instance modehttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143793.aspx
> Start /wait <CD or DVD Drive>\servers\setup.exe /qb
> INSTANCENAME=<InstanceName> .....
>
> regards
> SW

Thanks,

I haa already tried the :

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967

article but it didnt , it was asking me to remove keys from the
registry that didnt exist and stuff.

I really cant see an option to change the instance name (are you sure
this isnt only available of full sql 2005 (and not express) )

Ill try the commmand prompt installation.

On Oct 12, 5:17 pm, puma75 <paulroski...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 11, 10:55 pm, Sebastian Waksmundzki <sebw...@yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > puma75 wrote:
> > > Hi,
>
> > Hellow
>
> > > I keep getting this error message when imtrying to install sql 2005
> > > express :
>
> > > An instance with the same name is already installed on this computer.
> > > To proceed with SQL Server Setup, provide a unique instance name.
>
> > > It says provide a unique instance name but during the installation
> > > process nowhere does it ask for an installation name so there is no
> > > way of providing one.
>
> > > The instance that is already installed is somehow currupt (half
> > > installed) but cant seem to fully uninstall it, its really a nightmare.
>
> > You can uninstall instance manually have a look to those articleshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-u...
>
> > and then try again . I'm sure you can choose instance name in the
> > wizzard window. also you can use command prompt installation to choose
> > instance modehttp://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143793.aspx
> > Start /wait <CD or DVD Drive>\servers\setup.exe /qb
> > INSTANCENAME=<InstanceName> .....
>
> > regards
> > SW
>
> Thanks,
>
> I haa already tried the :
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967
>
> article but it didnt , it was asking me to remove keys from the
> registry that didnt exist and stuff.
>
> I really cant see an option to change the instance name (are you sure
> this isnt only available of full sql 2005 (and not express) )
>
> Ill try the commmand prompt installation.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Actually on the install wizard there was a tick box "Hide advanced
options" which if you untick this get the option to change instance
name. So I have installed a new instance of sql server which works
fine, the old currupt/half installed one is still lying around
somewhere but I guess if it isnt hurting anything I can leave that.

Thanks for the reply.