Historical article
- Original title: Pubs and Northwind databases not installed in SQL Server 2005
- Author: Brian Knight
- Original publication date: January 6, 2006
- Originally published on: White Knight Technology
- Preservation note: This article preserves the installation guidance recovered from the Wayback snapshot.
Archive provenance: White Knight Technology Historical Archive
The newer AdventureWorks and AdventureWorksDW sample databases were preferable to Northwind and Pubs: they were more realistic, demonstrated good practices, and covered a substantial portion of SQL Server 2005's features. However, many SQL Server 2000 examples on the Internet still worked with SQL Server 2005, while updated SQL Server 2005-specific material was still being written. Installing the older sample databases allowed legacy RDL files, T-SQL scripts, and other examples to run.
The original Microsoft download was http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=06616212-0356-46a0-8da2-eebc53a68034&displaylang=en.
Running SQL2000SampleDb.msi extracted the files to the fixed directory C:\SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases. From there, Instpubs.sql created the Pubs database and Instnwnd.sql created Northwind. Without the graphical SQL tools, they could be installed from a command prompt with SQLCMD:
c:\sqlcmd -S .\InstanceName -i instpubs.sql
c:\sqlcmd -S .\InstanceName -i instnwnd.sql
With SQL Server Management Studio installed, the scripts could instead be opened and run in a query window. The extracted MDF and LDF files were also available for attachment. The original guidance was to copy them into the SQL Server instance's Data directory, right-click the database tree, choose Attach, and point to the MDF and LDF files.
After either the scripts or attachment had been used, the extracted directory and files could be removed through Add/Remove Programs.
The original warning remains important in its historical context: do not make a habit of creating new scripts against these obsolete sample databases because they no longer represented the current technology strategies of the time.
Recovery limitations
This recovery preserves the installer name, extracted filenames, and installation guidance verified in the archived article. It does not redistribute the historical MSI or sample-database files, and the old download's present availability has not been validated.
2026 Update
Pubs, Northwind, this installer, and its installation workflow are obsolete. Use supported sample datasets for current work, and use these historical samples only when a legacy dependency requires them in an isolated, non-production context.