Fresh SQL 2008 Install.....DO THIS FIRST! or be sucked into the "The SQL Vortex of Hell'

I cannot take credit but I can point you in the right direction if you are about to do a virgin install of SQL 2008. Recently on an install we were finding inconsistent behavior in our SQL 2008 cluster. SP1 had been applied and CU3...Still weird things going on.

Again, after some checking around on the wonderful internets , we found we were not alone and found this....

Creating a merged (slipstreamed) drop containing SQL Server 2008 RTM + Service Pack 1

can be found at .....

http://blogs.msdn.com/petersad/archive/2009/02/25/sql-server-2008-creating-a-merged-slisptream-drop.aspx

Quick SQL uninstall, reboot, and install from the new SlipStream media and all is good. I used the same media on different hardware 2 weeks later and no issues at all!!

Take the extra 10 minutes to do this and save yourself from 'The SQL Vortex of Hell' of finding little bugs!

Thanks Peter Saddow!!!!!!!

Asta Ninjas