(1) installing sqlserver 2008 on Win7
The Install warns about a compatibility issue. You can ignore that. But after the install you have to install sqlserver 2008 sp1

(2) Install/uninstall
Since vista, you can do an image backup
Before I install anything significant - I take an image backup of my C: onto a USB drive
You then have to go into each folder of WindowsImageBackup in that USB drive - It then asks you to change the access permissions of the folders

After that I rename the folder - so that I have many image backups, eg

WindowsImageBackup_20091208_1_afteractivationBeforePrinter
WindowsImageBackup_20091210_2_afterprinter_beId_beforeSqlServer
WindowsImageBackup_20091212_afterSqlServer_beforeVS2010

If any installation fails or I want to go back to a point in time
(1) I put a text file with the name of the folder of the image I want to restore in the USB drive
(2) I rename the folder to WindowsImageBackup
(3) I do an image restore (you have to boot from CD)


All my data is on a separate partition D: which I back up every day with robocopy
I have put all the data of sqlserver on a separate partition E:

This means that I can restore the OS without touching my data


I rarely do an uninstall - I simply do an image restore

>I completely gave up on installing SQL Server 2005 on my Windows 7 Laptop; too many errors. In regard to installing SQL Server 2008, I decided that I'd keep going in spite of errors; it is in full installation mode right now, even as we speak. However, there was one file I had to install previous to being able to get this far, but it was about 1:00 AM and I didn't write it down. Anyway, the SQL Server 2008 installation is proceeeding now, and so far it looks good. There were a couple errors initially and I just hit the CONTINUE button and got past those errors.
>
>Here's what the main error stated:
>
>Unhandled exception error has occurred in your application. If you click continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.
>
>An error occurred creating the configuration section handler for userSettings/Microsoft.Sql.Server.Configuration.LandingPage.Properties.Settings: Could not load file or assembly 'System, Version=4.0.0.0 Culture=neutral. Public Key Token=b77a5c561934e089' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified. (C:\Users\Cecil\AppData\Local\Microsoft_Corproation\LandingPage.exe _StrongName_ryspccglaxmt4nhlij5z3thycltsvyyx\10.0.0.0user.config line
>
>After looking on the Internet (google) at others who have had similar problems, it makes me wonder how others can have smooth installations?
>
>The installation is still proceeding. It is about two-thirds complete now.
>
>9:22 PM CA Time: Later,...the installation sort of succeeded, but there were errors and four parts of SQL Server did not install. I am tired of playing around with this laptop, so I am doing a clean installation with Windows 7 Home edition now.
>
>12/13/2009 12:31 AM in California: Finished the Windows 7 "Clean" installation, the SQL Server 2008 installation and also the Visual Studio 2008 installation. I haven't opened any of these yet, just kept installing. What do you do with the Windows.old folder? Looks like the clean install was the best way to go.
>
>Got to go to sleep now,...
>
>Cecil
>
>>I hear that there are some compatibility problems with both versions of SQL Server and Windows 7. What exactly the problems are and why I don't know ... I don't have Windows 7 yet, so I've only heard this through the grapevine from someone who had issues installing on Win 7. I don't know if he tried any Googling for answers or not.
>
>>If I hear anything more promising, I'll let you know. Likewise, if you find out anything, could you let me know?
>
>>~~Bonnie