>>>Not sure where to post this question, so I am posting in both SQL Server and .NET forums.
>>>
>>>I have done a lot of searching to find best practices and recommendations for creating an install CD or DVD for a new Visual Basic 2008 application with a SQL Server 2008 Express back end. This is a single user, single desktop application. The database will always be installed on the desktop (not intended for a server).
>>>
>>>The one problem is that our customers are going to be remote. We cannot drive over to their office to solve an installation error. They most likely will have internet, but some may not (and those that do may not have high speed internet).
>>>
>>>I have always had great respect for opinions here, and wondered what people have found works best for them when faced with creating a robust installation routine (with required prerequisites getting installed, database user configured, application files installed, shortcut created and database with some default data created).
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>
>>Look at the team blog, it seems they want to create better ways to install it.
>>
>>http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/default.aspx
>
>Thanks for this link! I tried to fill out their survey - cuz I think this whole install thing is a mess and should just work!! - but, alas, I signed up to Microsoft Connect, clicked on the link to the survey, and got 'Access Denied'. *sigh* Oh well, at least they seem to be realizing that if they want SQL Server Express to be THE database for apps, they need to clean up this mess and improve the complicated deployment process.


You are welcome, I'm sorry you could not take the survey, I have not tried. I stopped using SQL Server (for now at least) and I started using PostgreSQL. I might need to used later tough