In the first two installments of our series dedicated to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, we have presented an overview of its most basic characteristics, focusing on those that distinguish it from its predecessor, Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE) 2000 as well its contemporaries (other flavors of SQL Server 2005, in particular, its Compact Edition). As we have indicated, limited functionality implemented in the initial version has been extended, yielding several downloadable software packages. In this article, we will describe in more detail the differences between them and their basic installation process.
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