Determine if a SQL Server Express instance is enabled to be used as a database server

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to determine if an instance of SQL Server Express is enabled to be used as a database server.

To identify if a SQL Server Express instance has been enabled to store geodatabases, check the Microsoft SQL Server services hive in the Windows Registry.

Procedure

1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
2. At the command line, type regedit.exe.
3. Check the following Registry key:
   
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MSSQL$<SQL Server Express instance name>

   
   
   

   Note:
   By default, SQL Server Express instances are named sqlexpress, but this value may be different if another name was used when SQL Server Express was installed.

   
   If the registry key, ArcSDE_License, is present in this location and the Data value is set to a string beginning with either sdeworkgroup or sdepersonal; the SQL Server Express instance is enabled as a database server and can store geodatabases.