Download AdventureWorks Sample Database for Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Microsoft has released sample databases for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 including AdventureWors databases and Contoso database on CodePlex for free use of SQL Server administrators and developers.
Sample databases for MS SQL Server 2008 are very useful if you are developing advanced solutions on Microsoft SQL Server databases.
Especially if you are using the new or improved features of SQL Server, as a common means of communication among SQL developers these sample databases are very important.
Perhaps, all T-SQL programmers know the AdventureWorks sample database.
AdventureWorks database is the successor of the NorthWind sample database for SQL 2008.
Among the t-sql developer community, when articles or tutorials are published generally the sample database AdventureWorks tables and the database records are used for the SQL script samples and for the example sql statements.
Therefore especially when you have installed a new version of SQL Server, it is better to download AdventureWorks or other sample databases and install it for the MSSQL Server instance.
If you have already installed the new version of Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server 2008 R2, please read AdventureWorks Database - Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Sample Databases for AdventureWorks sample databases.
SQL Server 2008 Sample Databases
When you download AdventureWorks sample databases the following sample databases will be installed on your SQL Server database.
Sample Database names (Sample SQL Server databases):
AdventureWorks
AdventureWorks2008
AdventureWorksDW
AdventureWorksDW2008
AdventureWorksLT
AdventureWorksLT2008
Contoso
Since I'm running a 64 bit Developer Edition of the MS SQL Server 2008 database, I've downloaded the X64 version of the SQL 2008 sample databases.
SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x64.msi downloadable file is about 61.5 MB in total size
You can free download AdventureWorks SQL Server 2008 sample databases from CodePlex Microsoft SQL Server Product Samples Sample Databases download site.
To download Contoso BI demo database please visit Microsoft Downloads web portal.
The sample database download is an executable .msi file and when download is completed you can start the installation of the sample SQL Server 2008 SR3 databases including AdventureWorks.
Take as a note that if you have also the MS Analysis Services installed on your SQL Server computer, its servise should be started before you start the sample databases installation.
Actually, I have started all of the services belonging to Microsoft SQL Server instance on my computer including Analysis Services, Reporting Services, SQL Server Agent, etc.
During the installation you target a SQL Server 2008 instance for the sample databases to be installed for cases where more than one SQL2008 instance is installed.
And the installation process lasts only for a short time and end within 5 minutes.