Uninstall a named instance in SQL Server 2012

Over the last several years as I have been studying towards my Microsoft SQL Server certifications in many different versions,  I have had to install demo versions of the database engine to work on the examples that the study materials provide.  The demo versions are usually good for a limited amount of time such as 6 months.  I will generally install a named instance that is specific to whatever study book I’m working through.   When the time comes that the demo instance has expired,  I have found it necessary to uninstall a specific named instance but leave other instances undisturbed.

This is a quick step by step guide on uninstalling a named instance while leaving the default instance alone.

Step 1. Open the Control Panel and click on Uninstall a program.

Step 2.  Locate Microsoft 2012 from the list of installed programs.  Right click on it and select Uninstall.

Step 3. Click on Remove.

Step 4.  After the uninstall wizard completed the Setup Support Rules dialog, click on OK.

Step 5.  This is the most critical step.  From the “Instance to remove features from:” drop down select the desired instance name.  Then click Next.

Step 6.  Select the features you wish to uninstall from the instance.  In this case, we wish to preserve the shared features but uninstall the database engine for the desired instance.  Click Next.

 Step 7.  Once Removal Rules has completed, 

click Next.

Step 8.  Review the summary on the Ready to Remove screen.  Click Remove.

Step 9.  The removal will show its progress then once complete you click Close on the Complete screen.

Keep in mind this only removes the database engine for the named instance you specify.  It does not remove any shared features that other instances use.  If you have a named instance that is a time sensitive demo version then it is best to uninstall these once expired so they don’t interrupt any other instances you have.

Thanks for reading,
MSSQL Canuck