I found some articles to be of major use:
This link is an experience someone else had:
http://goneale.com/2009/05/24/cant-install-microsoft-sql-server-2008-management-studio-express/
This link has the exact steps involved to install everything properly:
http://www.codefrenzy.net/2011/06/03/how-to-install-sql-server-2008-management-studio/
This link confirms the previous link:
https://superuser.com/questions/88244/installing-sql-server-management-studio-when-vs2010-beta-2-is-already-installed
My Instructions
I am not sure if my instructions will be 100% accurate, but in my instance, because I installed VS2010 on a fresh copy of Windows 7, the VS2010 installer installs SQL Server 2008 Express for you, so from this point I just need the Management Studio.
What I gathered from these explanations is to do the following:
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Download the SQL Server Management Studio install from
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=22973 -
Run the setup, when you get to the point where it asks you to “Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2008” or “Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2008“, this part is the CONFUSING PART (HEY MICROSOFT TAKE NOTES, DON’T DO THIS KIND OF STUFF).
As much as you want to select “Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2008” DON’T!!!!
You need to select “Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2008“. It doesn’t sound right I know – it is very confusing and counter intuitive, but this seems to be the way to install management studio. 🙁
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Press next until you see the features selection portion. Heeeeeyyyy look at that, it has a check box for Management Studio. It should be selected already, if not then select it of course and press next.
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Press Next next next next next next… basically just install it at this point.
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Enjoy, it has installed.