Installing Microsoft CRM for Outlook Offline with SQL 2008 Express

While deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook recently, I had an issue with one PC.  This PC had previously had an installation of MSDE, the predecessor to SQL 2005 Express.  Even though all installed SQL programs had been uninstalled and the program files had been deleted, SQL 2005 Express would not successfully install.  I knew from reading the log files that somewhere in the registry there was a reference to the previously installed SQL instance that was preventing SQL 2005 Express from successfully installing.  This was a showstopper for installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM with Offline Access.

Before jumping in to registry surgery, I remembered that according to KB 957053:

If you use the Microsoft Dynamics CRM client for Outlook with Offline Access and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Data Migration Manager, SQL Server 2008 Express Edition is also supported.

So, I decided to try installing SQL 2008 Express first, and then installing CRM Offline.

I downloaded SQL Server Express 2008 and installed it.  I had to install or upgrade a bunch of components, such as Powershell, but it went flawlessly.

Lesson learned number 1:  if you have a pc that won’t let you install SQL 2005 for some strange reason, SQL 2008 may work.

After the SQL install was completed, I tried to install Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access.  When it got to the components check, it started to download SQL 2005 Express.  Something wasn’t right.

After inquiring with the Microsoft team and my fellow MVP’s, I determined that the SQL 2005 Express instance that is created is named “CRM.”  When the offline client is installed, it looks for an instance called “CRM,” and if it doesn’t exist, it downloads and installs SQL 2005 Express.

I reinstalled SQL 2008 Express, this time specifying a named instance called “CRM.”

Then I installed the offline client.  This time it worked.

Lesson learned number 2: You have to name your SQL 2008 Express instance “CRM” before installing CRM for Outlook with Offline Access.

And the final test—did it work?  Yes, it did.  We could successfully install and configure CRM and go offline, even though the server SQL version was 2005.

Lesson learned number 3: You can use SQL 2008 Express with CRM even if your CRM SQL Server database is SQL 2005.

Thanks to CRM MVP Jürgen Beck for your helpful suggestion.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft CRM,Dynamics CRM,offline,Outlook,SQL 2008

Comments

[Pat Sullivan]

This is exactly what I have been looking for. I know most of what you posted, but I have a question about the SQL 2008 Express installation. After naming the instance properly ("CRM") I get to some other options that I have no idea about. Is there any possibility you have screenshots of the other installation screens? I am not the sysadmin or a DBA--I just install the stuff on the workstations.