---
title: "What's New in SQL Server Installation | Microsoft Docs"
description: This article summarizes some changes to the SQL Server installation process, including SysPrep support and upgrading from SQL Server 2005.
ms.custom:
  - intro-whats-new
ms.date: "08/23/2017"
ms.service: sql
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.subservice: install
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.assetid: 9b136b27-4779-4284-904f-b5a1c12bdcc0
author: rwestMSFT
ms.author: randolphwest
---
# What's New in SQL Server Installation
[!INCLUDE [SQL Server -Windows Only](../../includes/applies-to-version/sql-windows-only.md)]

 Installation is supported on x64 processors only. For more information, see [Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server](../../sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server.md).
  
 Installation of [!INCLUDE[ssExpress](../../includes/ssexpress-md.md)] will prompt you to specify the directory to save the extracted package. If no location is entered, the server will default to the computer's system drive. The extracted files will remain after [!INCLUDE[ssExpress](../../includes/ssexpress-md.md)] installation is complete.  
  
 SysPrep is supported for all installations of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. SysPrep now supports failover cluster installations. For more information, see [Considerations for Installing SQL Server Using SysPrep](../../database-engine/install-windows/considerations-for-installing-sql-server-using-sysprep.md) and [Install SQL Server using SysPrep](../../database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server-using-sysprep.md).  
  
 Upgrade from [!INCLUDE[ssVersion2005](../../includes/ssversion2005-md.md)] is supported, but side\-by\-side is not supported. For more information about [!INCLUDE[ssVersion2005](../../includes/ssversion2005-md.md)] support in [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)], see [Supported Version and Edition Upgrades](../../database-engine/install-windows/supported-version-and-edition-upgrades.md).  
 
  
## See Also  
[What's New in SQL Server](../../sql-server/what-s-new-in-sql-server-2017.md)

[Maximum Capacity Specifications for SQL Server](../../sql-server/maximum-capacity-specifications-for-sql-server.md)   

[Planning a SQL Server Installation](../../sql-server/install/planning-a-sql-server-installation.md)   

[Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server](../../sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server.md)