Unable to create database; SQL is not locally installed

[ncorbett]

I just downloaded the 30 day trial of ACT 2011 and can't even start the program because I am stuck on the opening page!  I am given two options - to Create an ACT! database (when I select this, I get the error message "Unable to create database; SQL is not locally installed") and the other choice is to open an existing ACT! database.  I have no existing database, and can not even find the sample one that is nowhere to be found with the rest of the ACT folders that came in the dowloads.  Is installing this program really this complicated??  Help!

[rosevear]

Sounds like you have not installed SQL you can do this manually by following the Sage KB article 25198:
http://kb.sagesoftwareonline.com/cgi-bin/sagesoftwareonline.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2519...

[GLComputing]

Did you install as Custom or Typical?

You might check that SQL is installed - look in Add/Remove programs and services.msc

If installed, make sure the service is started

If not installed, you might look in the windows event log for the time you did the install to see if there was an error

[agaliano]

What operating system is installed on this machine?

You must have SQL installed in order to create a new database on that local machine .  Perhaps it failed to install SQL and it skipped that item?

The demonstration database typically installs in the My Documents ( Windows XP) and User>Documents (Win 7)

You can also call into ACT! support for help with this issue.

R,

Alanna

[jsaenz]

I am having the same problem. Have tried installing ACT on it's own but it fails to install SQL Server. Then I installed SQL server 2008 R2 on it's own, then ACT (which will install after the independent install of SQL Server) but when I try to create a database I get the Unable to create database; SQL is not locally installed error even though SQL is installed. UGH, why doesn't Sage make this product for MAC. 

Help! 

[GLComputing]

jsaenz ... it might help if you include answers to some of the questions above.

[edbully12]

did this work - I have the same problems.

[gmartin]

Hello Edbully12,

Welcome to the Sage ACT! Online Community!

The first step is to determin if SQL actually installed - this message generally indicates that it did not or did not completely.

- Go to Windows Start > Run (use Search if Vista/7) > enter 'services.msc' > scroll down to locate 'SQL Server (ACT7)'.  If not present, the SQL installation failed.

- At this point, if no other applications use SQL - the next step is to uninstall all SQL components through Add/Remove programs.

- Reboot

- Install SQL manually using the instructions in this article: KB Article 26994

If this service is present and started, can you open the ACT! Demo database?

[hxp8316]

I have the same problem. If I actually install the SQL server, how to start SQL Server (ACT7) service?

[GLComputing]

If you created it correctly, it should start automatically, unless there's a problem