How To Install SQL Server CE from the Command Line and Generate a Log File

This article describes how to install SQL Server CE from the command line and generate a Windows Installer log file.

The SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition Web download file, SSCE_Setup.exe, provides an integrated setup of Windows CE Data Access 3.1 and SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition Development and Server Tools.

You can also call the Windows Installer executable file (Msiexec.exe) to install SQL Server CE and the Windows CE Data Access 3.1 distribution manually. Doing so allows you to create a verbose log file (by using the /L*V switch) for troubleshooting purposes.

To install SQL Server CE and Windows Data Access 3.1 from the command line, follow these steps:

1. Run SSCE_Setup.exe to extract the run-time files. Do not make a selection when the setup prompts you to choose whether to install the Development or Server tools or the temporary folder the files are stored in will be deleted.
2. If you are installing to a Microsoft Windows NT computer, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the C:\Temp folder. If you are installing to a Microsoft Windows 2000 computer, navigate to the C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Local Settings\Temp folder.
3. Locate the new temporary folder inside \Temp, which contains the following *.msi files:
   
   
   Collapse this tableExpand this table

   ADOCE31.msi	Windows CE Data Access 3.1
   SSCESetup.msi	SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition
   SSCEServer.msi	SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition Server Tools

4. Copy this folder and all its contents to a different location on your hard drive.
5. Cancel the integrated SSCE_Setup distribution.
6. Open a command prompt and navigate to the the newly copied folder that contains your extracted setup files.
7. Call the Windows Installer executable file (Msiexec.exe) to install the Windows CE Data Access 3.1 distribution as follows:
   
   

   msiexec /I adoce31.msi /L*V c:\adoinstall.log

   
   
   NOTE: The preceding example assumes that you want the install log to be placed in the root of your C: drive. You may place the install log anywhere you want.
8. After the Data Access components have finished installing, you can verify that the setup completed successfully by reviewing the log file. You should see the following at the end of the log:

   Action ended 8:57:37: INSTALL. Returned Value 1.
   ...
   MSI (c) (E7:F3): Product: Windows CE Data Access 3.1 -- Installation operation completed successfully.
   					

9. Next, call the Windows Installer to install SQL Server CE:
   
   

   msiexec /I SSCESetup.msi /L*V c:\SSCESetup.log 

   
   
   NOTE: You may place the SSCESetup.log file anywhere you want on your file system.
10. Verify that SQL Server CE was installed correctly by locating the following text at the end of the SSCESetup log file:

    Action ended 9:07:24: INSTALL. Return value 1.
    ...
    MSI (c) (05:F1): Product: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition -- Installation operation completed successfully.
    					

For more information about the Windows Installer error codes, refer to the MSDN Library at: For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: SQL Server CE Readme.txt Release Notes about Installation

SQL Server 2000 Books Online; topic: "Windows Installer"