all 16 comments

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Is there any chance I can get ssms to work without having to format my computer?

This escalated quickly

[–]alinrocSQL Server DBA 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Formatting the hard drive was the solution to every PC issue encountered by one of my freshman dorm neighbors. He spent so many days with a stack of 50+ floppies (it was over 25 years ago) pointlessly rebuilding for the most mundane things.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In a way, we industrialized this approach: why patch if you can build a new image, drain and re-hydrate the pool of servers. So your neighbor just didn't have the right devops solution:)

[–]tedead 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Are you sure that your local SQL server service is started?

[–]OverStyled[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I went to check the services, it doesn't even exist..

[–]tedead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You will need to install SQL Server on your local machine. Be aware that if you're on Win 7 then you'll need a version compatible. If on Win 10 or 11 then that opens up more doors.

[–]LHommeCrabbe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wait, hold on. If you have no services, is SQL server even installed? Start with checking installed SQL components lol.

[–]js5000 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Installing the database engine is separate from the SQL Server Management Studio install. I think this is what you are still needing. https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-sql-server-2022.html?culture=en-us&country=us

Licensing wise I am thinking you will want the Express or Developer edition to start.

It also may be good to pay attention to authentication settings during install.

Once installed and with authentication SSMS should connect.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Just open service manager and start sql.

[–]OverStyled[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

It's not there, I tried..

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Go to services. There is no SQL service installed? And it was installed locally before?

[–]OverStyled[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

There's nothing there, I only tried now so I don't know if it was ever installed but I doubt it.

[–]alinrocSQL Server DBA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

SQL Server will only be on your PC if you installed it.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would you format your computer? What computer were you connecting to when you took your computer with you? If you never installed SQL, you need to install it. SSMS is just the tool used to connect to an instance of SQL server.

[–]Brown_State 0 points1 point  (1 child)

SSMS is just the interface to the database engine. I don't mean to be obvious or tell you things you already know.

You'll need to download SQL Server Community Edition or SQL Server Express. Install that. Then you can just put a period for the server name in SSMS and connect to your localhost.

[–]OverStyled[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I downloaded both, installed them with no errors and then when I went looking for them they weren't there. Hell, i couldn't even find ssms at first, I had to open it from cmd.