Microsoft posted on April 18, 2006 the RTM version of Service Pack 1 for SQL Server 2005 Developer, Workgroup, Standard, Enterprise, and Express editions. Get the lowdown on SP-1's added features, ...

Fresh install of SQL Server 2005, everything works. Upgrade to just SP1, everything works.

I'd probably install VS first, *including* SQL Express, then install SQL 2005 Developer edition as the default SQL Server instance. SQL Express has enough purposes to keep around.

Learn how to install and configure SQL Server Management Studio, download a SQL Server, and connect them on a Windows 11/10/Server computer..