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Complete Guide: Fully Uninstalling Microsoft SQL Server 2019 from Your System

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 is a flagship relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It's celebrated for its robust performance, extensive features, and scalability, serving diverse data management needs across businesses. Renowned for advancements in performance, security, and analytics, SQL Server 2019 remains a pivotal tool in the realm of data management and analysis.

Fully Uninstall for Microsoft SQL Server 2019:

Uninstalling Microsoft SQL Server 2019 entirely from your system involves more than just removing the program through the Control Panel. To ensure a complete removal, including all components and associated files, follow these steps:

  1. Stop SQL Server Services: Before proceeding with the uninstallation process, ensure that all SQL Server services are stopped. Open the "Services" application from the Windows search bar, locate any services related to SQL Server, and stop them.

  2. Uninstall SQL Server: Open the Control Panel, navigate to Programs and Features, and find "Microsoft SQL Server 2019" in the list of installed programs. Right-click on it and select "Uninstall." Follow the prompts to uninstall SQL Server.

  3. Remove SQL Server Instances: If you have multiple instances of SQL Server installed, you may need to remove them individually. You can do this during the uninstallation process or by using the SQL Server Installation Center.

  4. Delete SQL Server Data Directories: Manually delete any data directories or files associated with SQL Server. These may include the data files, log files, and backup files stored on your system. Common directories to check include C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server and C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server.

  5. Remove Registry Entries: Be cautious when editing the Windows Registry. Open the Registry Editor (search for "regedit" in the Windows search bar) and navigate to the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSSQLSERVER (or any SQL Server instance name)
Delete any keys or entries related to SQL Server.

6- Clean Up Program Files: Navigate to the installation directory where SQL Server was installed and delete any remaining files or folders.

7- Restart Your Computer: After completing the uninstallation process and cleaning up any remaining files, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

By following these steps, you can perform a fully uninstallation of Microsoft SQL Server 2019 from your system, removing all components and associated files. This ensures a clean removal and frees up disk space on your computer.

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