George is correct, watch the log. The log transactions should not clear until they've been copied out of the distributor, even with log backups. So your log may grow if...

What do you need to do with SQL Server? It's a huge platform. I guess that a basic t-SQL course would make some sense. there's a tutorial here: http://www.w3schools.com/SQl/default.asp

I'd also...

I think this large log file is the publisher, correct?

If so, the log file could be there if you have replication troubles. Things can't be cleared from the log until...

Expire means that the space can be resused, not that the file/data is removed. As Jeffrey mentioned, you need to cleanup yourself.

Barry, I'd love to come, but the timing doesn't work for me. I'll look forward to seeing one in 2011, and I'll try to come out.

Nice job, Tim! I enjoyed reading it.

No, I'd leave slightly more than 1GB for the OS. I might leave it 1.5 or 2GB, then set the rest for SQL Server. The value, I believe, is in...

I'm not sure I'd advocate skipping them, but they could be low key, take an afternoon off, potluck, and small recognitions at work, just to remind people that they are...

I would second Jeffrey's note about changing to simple model if you don't need recovery. Otherwise, you need to run log backups.

there should be a setup log that has more information for VS and SQL Server. It's usually a text file that you can read.

I'd remove all SQL server stuff if...

Your IIS configuration will matter. Does the IIS pass through authentication requests to the user? You can manage users/pwds in SQL Server for the web users, but you'll need to...

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/scripts/Administration/64602/

Matt, you are correct, but security is a series of hurdles. If you lose the laptop, there's an x% chance that someone will get the data if you have TDE...

the pipe isn't open, as shown in the error. Does the SQL Server error log on startup show listening on the port/pipe you're using? Are you on the same machine...

I've never tried other languages, but I would guess that the product keys are not language specific. You would just have to try one and see.