Cleaning up a Basic WSS (Windows SharePoint Services) v3 uninstall. Removing SQL Server embedded #SSEE database setup - this has proven a pain for a lot of our clients, as well as some of our developers that are not familiar with the goings on of WSS v3. and a Basic installation.

INSTALLATION

When you install WSS v3 - by default - and most of us love defaults - it blazes right through and does a BASIC installation/configuration.

BASIC

Under this installation - WSS creates NOT a well known documented and easily discernable MSDE flavor of SQL Server - in all the right places like \%PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft SQL Server\blah blah blah...

Nope... It creates a hybrid of sorts - Microsoft Embedded SQL Server - nested under the OS folder. Neat...

FARM INSTALLATIONS / INSTALLATIONS using a separate SQL Server

The key to getting WSS to work on a remote SQL Server - major requirement in most all organizations, is to be aware that you need to do a COMPLETE installation - for a Farm - and when you run PSCONFIG after the install - you'll have the option to select a <domainName>\<instanceName>...

UNINSTALL WSS V3 - COMPLETE

Just running PSCONFIG and removing your configuration - then uninstalling WSS - does NOT solve your problem here. The real problem is that MSFT SQL Server Embedded (#SSEE) is still installed - and EVERYTIME you run the setup bits for WSS ??? It's reverting back to this database - w/no obvious way to get around it.

So, if you do not need the embedded version - and after you have uninstalled WSS V3 - do the following:

REMOTE #SSEE Embedded SQL Server

1. Start Registry Editor, and then locate the following registry key:              HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

2. Do an Edit/Find on Microsoft SQL 2005 embedded Edition

3. When you see a display name that matches the name, copy the value of the Key named “UninstallString”

4. Start-->Run-->CMD - opens a command prompt

5. Issue the following MSI - copying in your GUID and ensuring to complete the whole string.

6. - For example: MsiExec.exe /X{BDD79957-5801-4A2D-B09E-852E7FA64D01} CALLERID=OCSETUP.EXE

7. Confirm the removal - then bounce the box when you're done.

When you come back to install WSS v3 - do a Complete install - not a basic...