All versions SQL Server Registry Key

registry, sql-server

Solution

I've had the same problem. I don't think there's a 'one stop shopping' location for this.

What really complicates this is the concept of named instances - where you can have multiple versions of sql installed on the same machine.

For example: `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Inst1\MSSQLServer\CurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Inst2\MSSQLServer\CurrentVersion`

For SQL 2008, at least, you can enumerate the list of instances at `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL`

Problem

Is there any registry value that i could check to see if there is any version of SQL Server installed? I want to check a single value...not a value for 2005 another one for 2008 etc.

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