Verifying Installation

After the installation is complete, you should verify that the SQL Server software was installed properly, that the system databases were installed in the correct location, that the management tools were installed, that you can start and stop the services, and that you can connect to a database and perform a simple query.

If SQL Server reported no errors during the install, this doesn't have to be an exhaustive check. Quickly walk through the folder hierarchy with Explorer to make sure the binaries and database are where you planned, that the Start menu has the desired tools installed, and that the services are installed and configured properly in the Control Panel. If discrepancies exist, it has been my experience that they are due to incorrect input during the install, not due to a problem with the install program.