Answer: The SQL Server 7 Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE) is included with Microsoft Office 2000 (all editions) as well as the stand-alone edition of Microsoft Access 2000. MSDE is not installed as part of the standard Microsoft Office or Access setup; you have to run a separate setup program to install it. The following instructions apply to the installation of SQL Server 7. If you are using Windows Server 2003 or later, you must install SQL Server 2000.

To install MSDE

1. Insert Microsoft Office Disc 1 or the Microsoft Access disc in your CD drive.
2. Open the \SQL\x86\Setup folder.
3. Double-click Setupsql.exe. You should be able to use the default selections in the MSDE setup program; if you need to, you can reconfigure MSDE after installing it.

Once MSDE is installed on your computer, you may need to start the server component by using the SQL Server Service Manager. To do this, double-click the SQL Server Service Manager icon on the taskbar, make sure MSSQLServer is selected in the Services list, and then click Start/Continue. By default, MSDE starts the MSSQLServer service automatically on Windows NT 4.0 or later; you might want to automatically start MSDE on Windows 95 or later by selecting the Auto-start service when OS starts check box in the SQL Server Service Manager window. If the SQL Server Service Manager icon isn't available on the taskbar, you can start it from the Windows Start menu by pointing to Programs, then pointing to MSDE, and clicking Service Manager.

[1] Roberts, Mark; Chapter 1: Understanding Microsoft Access 2000 Client/Server Development; Mark Roberts, Microsoft Corporation; February 2000