Find what sql versions(!) installed by folders?

Question

I've seen this link, but with no help: How can I determine installed SQL Server instances and their versions?

So here is my question:

I want to see what versions of sql are installed on my computer.

If I'm running a query and typing :

select @@version

It tells me the running thread version. (which I don't want)

I want to see all of the versions - if installed!

Example: a computer can have sql 2000, 2005, 2008 ,2008R2

I've attached a print screen for my sql server folders.

I know that

80 = SQL Server 2000
90 = SQL Server 2005
100 = SQL Server 2008

How ever, it is not a rule.

Since 2008 creates both 80, 90.

It seems that the only way to find what versions are installed (besides regedit) is by the Sql Server Configuration manager.

Questions:

1) Is it possible by file system only, to detect what versions I have installed?

2) Is there any other way (besides registry), to see what SQL versions installed?

3) I read that mssql.1 is for the engine. What about MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS? Why it doesn't have mssql.4 number? MSDN says that it's a sequential ID of installed components.

Answer 1

SQL Server 2008 Discovery Report

How can i tell what SQL Server features and version do I have installed? This question has been asked a lot recently. Starting in SQL Server 2008, we added a SQL Server discovery report as an option on the Tools page on the Installation Center. When you click on the link below, SQL Server will be started to discover the SQL Server features.

The SQL Server Discovery Report is saved to %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\

Options:

You can also generate the Discovery report through the command line. Run “Setup.exe /Action=RunDiscovery” from a command prompt If you add “/q” to the command line above no UI will be shown, but the report will still be created in %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20091112_082147.

Reference:

• SQL Server 2008 Discovery Report