How to Set Up SQL Server on Windows

Galaxy Glossary

How do I install and configure SQL Server on Windows?

Install, configure, and verify a working Microsoft SQL Server instance on a Windows machine.

Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Description

Example H2

Example H3

What are the quickest steps to install SQL Server?

Download the free SQL Server Developer edition installer, run the basic installation, choose default instance, and restart when prompted. This gives you a ready-to-use engine with no feature limits.

How do I automate installation with PowerShell?

Use the command-line setup.exe with silent switches. Point to a configuration .ini file that contains edition, instance name, service accounts, SA password, and features.This avoids manual clicks and ensures repeatable builds.

Which post-install checks should I run?

Verify services started, connect with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), run SELECT @@VERSION, and create a test database. Confirm TCP 1433 is listening via netstat.

How do I create an e-commerce database right after install?

Run CREATE DATABASE ECommerce; then create Customers, Orders, Products, and OrderItems tables.Insert sample rows to validate CRUD operations.

How can I enable remote connections?

Open SQL Server Configuration Manager, enable TCP/IP, restart the SQL Server service, and allow port 1433 through Windows Defender Firewall.

What are best practices after setup?

Change the SA password, create least-privileged logins, configure full backups, enable instant file initialization, and set cost-threshold for parallelism based on workload.

When should I use mixed authentication?

Choose mixed mode only when required by legacy apps.Prefer Windows authentication for integrated security and easier credential management.

How do I uninstall cleanly?

Stop services, back up databases, use Control Panel → Apps → Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support files, and remove the instance. Delete leftover data folders to reclaim disk space.

Why How to Set Up SQL Server on Windows is important

How to Set Up SQL Server on Windows Example Usage


-- List last week's orders with customer and amount
SELECT o.id,
       c.name AS customer_name,
       o.order_date,
       o.total_amount
FROM   Orders o
JOIN   Customers c ON c.id = o.customer_id
WHERE  o.order_date >= DATEADD(day,-7,GETDATE());

How to Set Up SQL Server on Windows Syntax


PowerShell install (silent):
```
setup.exe /QS /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /ACTION=Install \
    /FEATURES=SQLENGINE,REPLICATION,SSMS \
    /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /SECURITYMODE=SQL \
    /SAPWD="Str0ngP@ssw0rd" /TCPENABLED=1 /NPENABLED=0
```
T-SQL schema setup after install:
```
CREATE DATABASE ECommerce;
GO
USE ECommerce;
GO
CREATE TABLE Customers (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    name NVARCHAR(100),
    email NVARCHAR(255),
    created_at DATETIME DEFAULT GETDATE()
);
CREATE TABLE Products (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    name NVARCHAR(150),
    price DECIMAL(10,2),
    stock INT
);
CREATE TABLE Orders (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    customer_id INT REFERENCES Customers(id),
    order_date DATETIME DEFAULT GETDATE(),
    total_amount DECIMAL(10,2)
);
CREATE TABLE OrderItems (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    order_id INT REFERENCES Orders(id),
    product_id INT REFERENCES Products(id),
    quantity INT
);
```

Common Mistakes

Skipping the license acceptance switch (/IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS) in silent installs causes setup.exe to fail. Always include the switch or the installer exits immediately.
Leaving the SA account enabled with a weak password exposes the server to brute-force attacks. Disable SA or set a complex password and use Windows authentication instead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need SQL Server Management Studio?

SSMS is optional for headless servers but highly recommended for local development and troubleshooting because it provides an intuitive GUI for querying and configuration.

Can I change the default data directory?

Yes. During installation choose the Data Directories tab or pass /SQLUSERDBDIR, /SQLUSERDBLOGDIR, and /SQLTEMPDBDIR switches to setup.exe for custom paths.