Downloading Sample Databases (LINQ to DataSet)

The samples and walkthroughs in the LINQ to DataSet documentation use the AdventureWorks sample database. You can download this product free of charge from the Microsoft download site. The samples and walkthroughs in the LINQ to DataSet documentation use SQL Server as the data store. SQL Server Express Edition, which is available without charge, can also be used as the data store instead of SQL Server.

Downloading and Installing the AdventureWorks Database

To download and install the AdventureWorks sample database for SQL Server

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Go to the SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases Web site.

3. Follow the instructions for downloading the AdventureWorks sample database for your processor type (such as AdventureWorksDB.msi), and save the .MSI file to your local computer.

4. If you have a previous version of AdventureWorks installed from the download or during the SQL Server setup, you must remove it before running AdventureWorks.msi.

To remove a previous download of an AdventureWorks sample database

1. Drop the AdventureWorks or AdventureWorksDW database.

2. From Add or Remove Programs, select AdventureWorksDB or AdventureWorksBI and click Remove.

To remove an AdventureWorks sample database previously installed using Setup

1. Drop the AdventureWorks or AdventureWorksDW database.

2. From Add or Remove Programs, select Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and click Change.

3. From Component Selection, select Workstation Components and then click Next.

4. From Welcome to the SQL Server Installation Wizard, click Next.

5. From System Configuration Check, click Next.

6. From Change or Remove Instance, click Change Installed Components.

7. From Feature Selection, expand the Documentation, Samples, and Sample Databases node.

8. Select Sample Code and Applications. Expand Sample Databases, select the sample database to be removed, and select Entire feature will be unavailable. Click Next.

9. Click Install and finish the installation wizard.

To attach the AdventureWorks sample database files to an instance of SQL Server

1. After the file sample database installer file has downloaded, double-click the AdventureWorksDB.msi file (or the file you downloaded) to install the database. By default, the database is installed at c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data.

2. Attach the AdventureWorks database files to an instance of SQL Server by executing the following script SQLCMD or SQL Server Management Studio:

   exec sp_attach_db @dbname=N'AdventureWorks', @filename1=N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks_Data.mdf', @filename2=N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks_log.ldf'
   

   If you have installed these files to a different drive or directory, you must revise the paths appropriately before you execute the sp_attach_db stored procedure.

Downloading SQL Server Express Edition

The samples and walkthroughs in the LINQ to DataSet section use SQL Server 2005 as the data store but can be modified to use SQL Server Express Edition, instead. SQL Server Express Edition is available without charge, and you can redistribute it with applications. If you are using Visual Studio, SQL Server Express Edition is included in the Pro and higher editions.

To download and install SQL Server Express Edition

1. Start Internet Explorer.

2. Go to the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition download page.

3. Follow the installation instructions on the Web site.

See Also

Other Resources

Getting Started (LINQ to DataSet)