SQL Server 2008 Books Online is the primary documentation for getting assistance with installing SQL Server. You can obtain Books Online in the following ways:

• Install Books Online by selecting the SQL Server 2008 Books Online feature in this release of SQL Server 2008. After installing, update to the latest version, which is available from the Books Online download page.

• View Books Online on MSDN.

• Download a stand-alone version from the Books Online download page.

To view the Books Online installation documentation without accessing Books Online, you can open the s10ch_setup.chm file from the installation media or from your computer using the following paths:

• To open s10ch_setup.chm from the installation media, open <drive>:\[x86] | [x64] | [ia64]\help\1033\s10ch_setup.chm.

• To open s10ch_setup.chm on your computer, open <drive>:\%Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\CTP6\[x86] | [x64] | [ia64]\Help\1033\s10ch_setup.chm.

The help file for updates (s10ch_update.chm) can be opened the same way.

The following Books Online topics on MSDN contain important information about installing SQL Server 2008. These topics are also in the installed versions of Books Online and in the s10ch_setup.chm file.

• Initial Installation

• Hardware and Software Requirements

• How to: Install SQL Server 2008

• How to: Upgrade to SQL Server 2008

• How to: Install SQL Server 2008 from the Command Prompt

• How to: Create a New SQL Server 2008 Failover Cluster

• How to: Uninstall an Existing Instance of SQL Server (Setup)

The Upgrade Advisor tool analyzes your current instance of SQL Server and provides important information you should know before upgrading. For information about SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor, see the Upgrade Advisor Web site.

The Release Notes provide supplemental information about product behaviors that apply only to this release or that are not documented in this release of Books Online. You can find the Release Notes on the Release Notes page.

1. This product contains software derived from the Xerox Secure Hash Function.

2. This product includes software from the 'zlib' general purpose compression library.

3. Portions of this software are based in part on the work of RSA Data Security, Inc. Because Microsoft has included the RSA Data Security, Inc., software in this product, Microsoft is required to include the text below that accompanied such software:

   
   

   Copyright © 1990, RSA Data Security, Inc. All rights reserved.

   
   

   License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is identified as the "RSA Data Security, Inc., MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this software or this function. License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided that such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc., MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing the derived work.

   
   

   RSA Data Security, Inc., makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind.

   
   

   These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this documentation and/or software.