Brian,

Thanks for the tutorial on installing the adventureworks sample db for SQLServer 2008. I have a questions though:

So, I wasn't able to get the database to install because it did not see the SQLServer 2008 instance. I did, indeed, have my instance running that I use to practice making and querying db's and it IS SQLServer 2008. I have the db icon on the the lower right and it has the green arrow and all (I know the service is running). Yet the .msi installation file doesn't see it? What am I doing wrong?

Also, I figured out how to put the database one manually by downloading the mdf and lbf files for adventureworks and attaching it through the SSMS. I'd like to point out that I am an absolute beginner and am trying to teach my self this stuff, so is simply attaching the mdf file a valid way to move or install databases? Is this all that the installation file is doing? Should I also be doing something else?

Thanks for your help!

Best Regards,

Bill