Member Avatar for chdboy

How to know which version
1.Microsoft SQL Server 2008.(Express)
2.Microsoft SQL Server 2012.(Express)
Both installed on my machine,am I running(using)?

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When multiple SQL Express instances are present the one "in use" is simply the instance a client actually connects to. 's KB reference and 's quick T‑SQL check are both useful; below are additional, practical ways to identify the engine version, the instance name, and which instance an application is hitting.

Run a server-side property query to get machine, instance, edition and product version in one shot:

SELECT
  SERVERPROPERTY('MachineName') AS Machine,
  SERVERPROPERTY('InstanceName') AS Instance,
  SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') AS Edition,
  SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') AS ProductVersion,
  SERVERPROPERTY('ProductLevel') AS ProductLevel;

Interpretation tips: the leading part of ProductVersion maps to product family (for example, 10.x → SQL Server 2008 family; 10.50 → 2008 R2; 11.x → SQL Server 2012). Edition will show "Express" if it's an Express instance.

Other fast checks without running queries:

  • In SQL Server Management Studio (Object Explorer) right‑click the server → Properties → General to view version/edition.
  • Open SQL Server Configuration Manager / Services to see which named instances are running (e.g., SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) vs SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)).
  • Inspect the running sqlservr.exe command line (Task Manager / Process Explorer) — its installation folder often includes MSSQL10... or MSSQL11... which indicate major version.
  • Verify the application’s connection string (config file) — the server/instance name (or explicit port) determines which engine it connects to.

For confirming which instance an app uses at runtime, check the app configuration or examine active sessions on each instance (server-side session views or the error log). The SERVERPROPERTY function is the most concise programmatic check — see Microsoft Docs for details: SERVERPROPERTY (Transact-SQL).

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Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

Execute the query

SELECT @@VERSION

You'll get back something like

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (SP3) - 10.0.5500.0 (Intel X86)   Sep 22 2011 00:28:06   Copyright (c) 1988-2008 Microsoft Corporation  Express Edition on Windows NT 6.1 <X86> (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)
Member Avatar for chdboy

Thanks it was very helpful .

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