SQL Server Installation - What is the Installation Media Folder?

I am installing SQL Server 2008. I have installed .NET framework 3.5. Then I got folder SQL Server 2008 and performed following steps-

1. I clicked configuration Tools.
2. Then I clicked SQL Server Installation Center.
3. I clicked "Installation" hyperlink on left side.
4. Then I clicked "New SQL server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation"
5. Then I got a window "Browse for SQL server Installation Media"

Which folder should I choose? Or is there any other method to install SQL Server?

For the SQL Server 2017 (Developer Edition) installation, I did the following:

1. Open SQL Server Installation Center
2. Click on Installation
3. Click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation
4. Browse to C:\SQLServer2017Media\Developer_ENU and click OK

If you've downloaded SQL from the Microsoft site, rename the file to a zip file and then you can extract the files inside to a folder, then choose that one when you "Browse for SQL server Installation Media"

SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe > SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.zip

7zip will open it (standard Windows zip doesn't work though)

Extract to something like C:\SQLInstallMedia

You will get folders like 1033_enu_lp, resources, x64 and a bunch of files.

If you are using an executable,

• just run the executable (for example: "en_sql_server_2012_express_edition_with_advanced_services_x64.exe")
• Navigate to the "options" tab
• Copy the "Installation Media Root Directory" (should look something like the below snipping)
• Paste it into the open "Browse for SQL server Installation Media" window

Save yourself the hastle of renaming and unzipping etc.!

For the SQL Server 2019 (Express Edition) installation, I did the following:

1. Open SQL Server Installation Center
2. Click on Installation
3. Click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation
4. Browse to C:\SQL2019\Express_ENU and click OK

While installing SQL Server, it extracts contents to temp folder under C directory. You can copy that folder after extraction finishes and then use that one for browsing

Check in Administration Tools\Services (or type services.msc in the console if you a service named SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS). If you do then it is installed.

From Visual Studio open Server Explorer (menu View\Server Explorer or CTRL + W, L). Right click Data Connections and choose Create New SQL Server Database. After that create tables and stuff...

If you want the Management Studio to manage the server you must download and install it from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en

I ran into this just now with SQL Server 2014 SP1. The installer gave me the exact same problem and I followed suggestions from other answers to this question, but it got me nowhere.

In the end I figured out that I needed to download and install SQL Server 2014 first, and then apply SP1 to it. (doh)

I had to select the folder C:\SQL2019\Express_ENU for it to work.

For SQL Server 2017

Download and run the installer, you are given 3 options:

1. Basic

2. Custom

3. Download Media <- pick this one! - Select Language - Select ISO - Set download location - Click download - Exit installer once finished

4. Extract ISO using your preferred archive utility or mount

Problem is about too long setup file name. Change setup.exe parent folder name(short a name). And try it!.

For me the Issue was I didn't run the setup as Administrator, after running the setup as administrator the message go away and I was prompted to install and continue process.

I downloaded from https://my.visualstudio.com/Downloads

It gave me an iso file (en_sql_server_2017_standard_x64_dvd_11294407.iso)

I had to double click on it and then it gave me an E: drive on my computer.

Then I was able to select the E: drive when it asked for the Installation Media location.