You need administrator rights to install Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) Service Pack 3A. To protect the stored data, you can change the factory default password during installation. The password is necessary to approach the MSDE 2000 database. To install Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000), proceed as follows:
  1. Prepare the service ‘Server’.
  2. Extract the MSDE 2000 files.
  3. Prepare the setup.ini file.
  4. Install the MSDE 2000 files.
  5. Start the SQL Server Service instance.
  6. Check for updates.
A procedure is added how to continue when the installation fails.

Prepare the ‘Server’ service

  1. Right-click ‘My computer’.
  2. Select ‘Manage’.
  3. Expand ‘Services and Applications’.
  4. Double-click ‘Services’.
  5. Double-click ‘Server’.
  6. Select ‘Automatic’ in the ‘Startup type’ drop-down list of the ‘Server’ properties dialogue box.
  7. Click ‘Start’ if the status of the server shows ‘Stopped’.
  8. Click ‘OK’.
  9. Close the ‘Computer Management’ screen.

Extract the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) files

  1. Double-click MSDE2000A.exe.

How to install the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) files

  1. Go to C:\MSDERelA en open Setup.ini with Windows Notepad®.
  2. Add the following text: SAPWD=StrongPassword SECURITYMODE=sql DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS=1 INSTANCENAME=MSDE_VC
  3. Save setup.ini.
  4. In the Windows start menu, click ‘Run’.
  5. Type ‘C:\MSDERelA\setup.exe /L*v C:\msde_install.log’ and press ENTER. The installation of MSDE 2000 will start now. A file will automatically be created to log the process.

How to start the SQL Server Service

  1. Right-click ‘My computer’.
  2. Select ‘Manage’.
  3. Expand ‘Services and Applications’.
  4. Double-click ‘Services’.
  5. Double-click ‘MSSQL$MSDE_VC’.
Note:If ‘MSSQL$MSDE_VC’ is not available, the installation has failed. Follow the procedure to troubleshoot.
  1. Click ‘Start’ in the ‘MSSQL$MSDE_VC’ properties dialogue box.
  2. Click ‘OK’.
Note: You can delete the temporary folder C:\MSDERelA after the installation has been completed successfully.

Check for updates for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000)

  1. Go to the website www.microsoft.com/sql/msde.
  2. Select Downloads.
  3. Download the required software.

Troubleshooting

  1. Open the file ‘msde_install.log’.
  2. Search for ‘Return value 3′.
  3. The lines that precede ‘Return value 3′ give you information about the error that occurred.
  4. Go to here or here to solve the error.