Installing SQLce 2005 Tools for VS2005 SP1

Last week, I attempted to install the SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Tools for Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 and received the following error message:

The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows Installer service because the program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program. Verify that the program to be upgraded exists on your computer and that you have the correct upgrade patch.

How did I work through this issue?  I did a repair on my Visual Studio 2005 [Team Suite] installation and then re-installed Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1.  After this, I attempted the SQLce VS tools install (SSCE31VSTools-ENU.exe) again.  Success!

Of course, performing a repair install on Visual Studio is something we would all rather avoid (and the SP1 re-install).  By the time I went to perform the install on a second dev box, I found a better way:

From the original Visual Studio installation media, locate the \WCU folder and install SQL Mobile from there.  After that is complete, retry the SQLce 2005 VS tools install. (credit to Amit Chopra from the Visual Studio for Devices team for the tip).  For more, check out this thread from the sqlce newsgroup in which fellow MVP Ginny Caughey answers questions.

If you want the download links for all the SQL Server Compact Edition 2005 bits, check out my prior blog post where I list all the downloads.