14 DAY TRIAL // Let me just say from the get go that the technical documentation delivered as an integer part of Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007 will point you in the right direction when it comes to installing and running Windows XP Embedded Studio Tool Suite on Windows Vista. But if you are like me you'll always look to save time and use a shortcut. So here it goes:
Sarah Ali, Product Manager with the Windows XP Embedded Team reveals the steps to a successful installation:
1. No MSDE: Do not install MSDE. Specifically, when installing XP Embedded, skip the step labeled "Database Engine Step" entirely. MSDE will not be supported on Windows Vista. If you are reading this because you have already installed MSDE and realized it won't work, in order to uninstall it, you may have to disable User Account Control in order to run uninstall.
2. SQL Server Express Edition: Instead of MSDE, install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. In order to get SQL Express 2005 to work with the tools, you'll need to change the instance name to MSSQLSERVER during installation of SQL Express 2005. The option to change the instance name will only be available if you uncheck "Hide advanced configuration options" at the beginning of the SQL Express install.
Think you're done? Think again. Once installed, you have to make sure that the Windows XP Embedded Studio Tool Suite actually runs. In order to do so, following the installation you need to disable User Account Control. The alternative to this is to log in with Administrator privileges.