| title | What's New in SQL Server Installation | |
|---|---|---|
| description | This article summarizes some changes to the SQL Server installation process, including SysPrep support and upgrading from SQL Server 2005. | |
| author | rwestMSFT | |
| ms.author | randolphwest | |
| ms.date | 09/07/2025 | |
| ms.service | sql | |
| ms.subservice | install | |
| ms.topic | whats-new | |
| ms.custom |
|
[!INCLUDE SQL Server -Windows Only]
Installation is supported on x64 processors only. For more information, see Hardware and software requirements for SQL Server 2022.
Installation of [!INCLUDE ssExpress] prompts you to specify the directory to save the extracted package. If no location is entered, the server defaults to the computer's system drive (usually C:\). The extracted files will remain after [!INCLUDE ssExpress] installation is complete.
SysPrep is supported for all installations of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. SysPrep now supports failover cluster installations. For more information, see Considerations for installing SQL Server using SysPrep and Install SQL Server with SysPrep.
You can upgrade from [!INCLUDE ssSQL11], [!INCLUDE ssSQL14], [!INCLUDE sssql16-md], [!INCLUDE sssql17-md], and [!INCLUDE sssql19-md]. For more information, see Supported version and edition upgrades (SQL Server 2022).