Automating SQL 2008 R2 Express for ConfigMgr

There are many guides online on automating the installation of SQL 2008 R2 Express.  Although each was missing a small detail, a concatenation of them led me to create a successful deployment.  Use the following process if you also are stuck trying to find the answer!

1. Run “SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe /UIMODE=Normal”
2. Go through the wizard, giving the settings desired for SQL Express, including the admins
3. On the “Ready to Install” page of the wizard, obtain a copy of ConfigurationFile.ini and then cancel the setup wizard
4. Edit the .ini file with the following:
   • Change parameter QUIET to “True”
     (Note: if you attempt to instead use QUIETSIMPLE to display a progress bar as part of the install, the deployment will not execute in ConfigMgr)
   • Comment out or delete the PCSOURCE parameter
   • Comment out or delete the UIMODE parameter
   • At the end of the file, add IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS=True
     (Note: do not use quotes around True as it’s a Boolean parameter)
5. Create a script which
   • Copies the .ini file to c:\windows\temp
   • Executes command “SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe /ConfigurationFile= c:\windows\temp\ConfigurationFile.ini /INDICATEPROGRESS”

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