Can SQL Server 2005 Express and MSDE CoExist?

I read in the installation requirements document for SQL Server 2005 Express the section on upgrading MSDE to SQL Server 2005 Express. The section indicated that if MSDE is installed via an application installation, that application will have to be uninstalled to remove MSDE. This leads to my question.

The small application I'm looking into developing will require SQL Server 2005 Express. What if a customer is using an application that installed MSDE? Can the two products coexist without problems?

Thanks!!

hi,

yes, MSDE 2000 and SQLExpress can coexists...

SQLExpress installation will upgrade the installed COM based binaries (SQL-DMO) to SQL Server 2005 level, but they have been tested to be retro-compatible and I'm personally not aware of troubles in this area..

regards