Databases Are Not Removed from SQL Server When You Remove Windows SharePoint Services (828910)

SYMPTOMS

When you remove Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services from a front-end Web server, the databases that are used by Windows SharePoint Services are not removed from the remote back-end server that is running Microsoft SQL Server.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if all the following conditions are true, in the order that they are presented:

You install Windows SharePoint Services by using the Server Farm option.
The Windows SharePoint Services Web site is extended, and a remote server that is running SQL Server is used to store data and manage the Windows SharePoint Services Web site.
You perform a full removal of Windows SharePoint Services from the server.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, manually delete the Windows SharePoint Services databases on the server that is running SQL Server. To do so, follow these steps:

Start SQL Server Enterprise Manager.
Expand Microsoft SQL Servers, expand SQL Server Group, expand the appropriate server, and then expand Databases.
Right-click each Windows SharePoint Services SharePoint database, and then click Delete.

Note By default, the configuration database is named STS_config, and the content databases are named STS_VirtualServerName_Number, where Number is a number (for example, STS_MyServer_1).
Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
Quit Enterprise Manager.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows SharePoint Services databases are not removed from SQL Server when you remove Windows SharePoint Services from the server, regardless of if you install Windows SharePoint Services by using the Typical Installation option or by using the Server Farm option.

For more information about Windows SharePoint Services, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/technologies/sharepoint/default.mspx