Microsoft SQL Server is an application used to create computer databases for the Microsoft Windows family of server operating systems. Microsoft SQL Server provides an environment used to generate databases that can be accessed from workstations, the Internet, or other media such as a personal digital assistant (PDA).

To follow our lessons, you must have access to a computer in which Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is installed. To start, you must have a computer that runs an appropriate operating system. If you are just learning, you can use a computer that runs Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, or Microsoft Winidows Server 2012.

There are various ways to install Microsoft SQL Server, such as installing on the one computer where it will also be used.

1. Start the computer
2. Insert the DVD in the drive. You may (should) receive a dialog box with a Run SETUP.EXE link:
    
   
   
   If so, click Run SETUP.EXE. Otherwise, click Open Folder, then double-click Default.htm, click the version you want to install, and double-click setup
3. The installation will start:
    
   

   

   In the left section, click Installation
    
   

   

4. If you are only interested in studying database design and development in Microsoft SQL Server, on the right side, click New SQL Server Stand-Alone Installation or Add Features to an Existing Installation.
   The installation would start:
    
   

    

   

5. Click OK
6. The next page of the wizard asks you to enter a product key. Type it and click Next
   
7. The License Terms page is presented to you. Read it. If you don't agree with the license, click Cancel:
    
   

   

   
    
   Otherwise, click the I Accept check box:
8.  Click Next
    
   

   

9. Read the messages and click Install
   
10. You may receive a warning message about the firewall:
     
    

    

    
     
    For now, ignore it (there is no true justfication in trying to disable the firewall, the installation will proceed fine).
    Click Next
     
    

    

11. The next page of the wizard is for the setup rolect. After making your selecti0n, click Next
12. The next page allows you to specify what you want to install and what would be left out. Make your selections:
     
    

    

    
    
    The eventual location of Microsoft SQL Server is specified in the bottom text box
13. After making your selections, click Next
     
    

    

14. The next page runs and checks the rules of the installation.
    Check Next
15. The next page allows you to name the instance of Microsoft SQL Server (and to specify where the server would be installed). In most cases, you should accept the suggested name of the instance as MSSQLSERVER:
     
    

    

    
     
    After making your selections, click Next
16. The next page mostly allows you to check and confirm the disk space:
    

    

    
     
    After checking it, click Next
17. The next page presents a summary of the server configuration:
     
    

    

    
     
    After checking it, click Next
18. In the next page, specify the account used as the administrator. To do this, you can click Add Current User:
     
    

    

19. Click Next
20. The next step allows you to specify an account for the analysis services. Click Add Current User
     
    

    

    
    
21. Click Next.
    The Reporting Services Configuration page displays

    

22. Click Next. If the Distributed Replay Controller page displays, click Add Current User
     
    

    

    
    
    Click Next
23. The Installation Configuration Reules oage may come up:
     
    

    

    
     
    Click Nex
24. The next page presents the Distributed Replay Client
     
    

    

    
     
    Click Next
25. The next page presents the error reporting
     
    

    

    
     
    Click Next
26. We get back to the Installation configuration Rules.
    Click Next
27. The next page gives you a summary of tests that were performed before the installation:
     
     

    

    
     
    To start the installation, click Install 
    
28. The installation would start and a progress bar would indicate the evolution. This can take a while
     
    

    

29. When this phase is over, the next page will let you know that the installation is over
     
    

    

    
     
    After reading the message, click Close
30. Restart the computer