What is SQL Server and why was it preinstalled on my laptop?

Whoa! SQL server is a Microsoft database server. You might normally expect it to run corporate accounting software and e-commerce sites. Have a little high-volume spamming operation going on from your laptop there?

Do any of the new office components use it? I use wordperfect office so I wouldn't know....

It really depends what part of SQL Server was installed on your laptop - Client tools or Server Instance. If it was just the Client tools then the previous user used it to access an SQL database (basically Access on HUGE steroids). If a Server instance is on there then most likely a developer used it to have a local copy of a database for testing or debugging. Either way, its a huge bloat if you will never use it.

It doesnt have anything like 10,000,000 Social Security Numbers in it, does it?

There are a number of applications that use SQL Server as a local repository, and add/remove programs now lists it as such rather than as MSSQL Runtime or just part of the main program that installed it. The runtime version is free for developers to use, and it is actually scalable as opposed to Access, which is the other option, so developers who need a database to support their application will use the runtime version.

Stop the service and see what breaks. That'll tell you why it is installed on yours

I recall you have an Lenovo from another thread. Lenovo preloads Office 2007, and the Business Contact Manager for Outlook component uses the SQL Server as its storage. If you uninstall BCM, you can safely uninstall the SQL Server.

I pronounced it "squirrel server" and thought it had something to do with acorns.

Did you get a new laptop or was it one that another user had before you did?

New (at least it bloody well better be new, considering what I paid Lenovo for it)

Bingo! I don't want/need/like BCM and have been wondering if it would be safe to uninstall it.

I just want the basic Office 2007 components- Word, Excel, Publisher and Outlook. I don't even really need PowerPoint except that friends occasionally send me something that needs to open in PowerPoint.

Thanks, all, for trying to help.

Yeah, on my more recent lenovo products, the BCM that is loaded requires SQL. I have it uninstalled on one of my units, no problems yet. I continue to do remote desktop, all other sessions, hosting files, etc.

I've always pronounced it squeal.

If you only need it for viewing, you can download a free Powerpoint viewer from Microsoft. They also have view versions of Excel, Word, and Access.

Thanks. I bought the Office Small Business package with the Lenova. It includes Excel, Word, Publisher, Powerpoint and, apparently, Business Contact Manager.

The annoying thing is that Lenova also installed a "30-day Free Trial" of the full business Office, so it's been a bit difficult to figure out what goes with what, and what I can safely uninstall.

I want to uninstall BCM (which I don't like or need) and SQL (if I don't need it to run any of the stuff I'm keeping). I guess I'll also need to uninstall Access (which I know isn't part of the Small Business package and which I also don't want or need).

I hate it when mfgs preinstall these "free trial" versions; if I'd wanted the stuff, I would have bought it in the first place.

Lenovo includes Office 2007 on all the computers they sell. By default, Office 2007 behaves as a trial edition good for 30 days.

For those who have purchased an Office license from Lenovo, there should be a Certificate of Authenticity and a Product Key in the box. I have not personally tried the following procedures, but you should be able to launch the Microsoft Office Activation Assistant and enter your Product Key there. The Activation Assitant will reconfigure Office based on the the edition of Office the Product Key is for and remove the components not applicable to your edition of Office. Additionally, it will activate Office, thus converting the trial edition into a full edition and remove the 30 day usage limit.

Do create a set of recovery media at the earliest opportunity. If something goes wrong with your computer's hard disk, this is the way to restore the pre-loaded software.

Lenovo sent installation CDs for the Office software, and I entered the product key the first time I used an Office program. But Access (which is not part of package) still appears on the Add/Uninstall list (as well as All Programs).