Resolving Missing Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3a Prerequisites During WinCC V6.0 Installation

During the installation of legacy SIMATIC PCS 7 WinCC V6.0 (or V6.0 SP3), setup halts with a prompt requiring 'Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3a' to be installed from a dedicated CD. WinCC V6.0 was the initial release transitioning from Sybase to Microsoft SQL Server 2000, and it requires a Siemens-customized instance configured with specific collation rules (SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS) and instance name 'WinCC'. Standard retail Microsoft SQL Server 2000 installation media cannot be substituted, as it lacks Siemens silent deployment scripts. To resolve this, obtain the official Siemens companion CD titled 'SIMATIC WinCC Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3a' from legacy archives or transition the project to a modern supported PCS 7 platform.

WinCC V6.0 Database Transition and SQL Server Architecture

The release of SIMATIC WinCC V6.0 (and its integration into SIMATIC PCS 7 V6.0 / V6.1) represented a major architectural milestone. Prior releases (WinCC V5.x) relied on the Sybase database engine. Starting with WinCC V6.0, Siemens standardized the SCADA/DCS data core on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition.

In WinCC V6.0, SQL Server hosts the entire engineering and runtime data infrastructure: tag dictionaries, alarm archives, cyclic process value archives, and user archive tables. Because industrial control requires deterministic real-time data exchange and international character compatibility, Siemens pre-engineers the SQL Server deployment with a dedicated named database instance (WinCC), custom memory allocation boundaries, and specific collation settings (SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS). Consequently, the WinCC setup routine does not install a generic SQL Server; it checks for the exact Siemens-certified deployment media.

Why Retail Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Media Fails During Setup

When engineers encounter the installation prompt requiring the SQL Server 2000 SP3a CD, they often attempt to utilize a generic Microsoft retail or MSDN SQL Server 2000 CD. This substitution consistently fails due to three technical factors:

Missing Siemens Custom Setup Wrappers: The Siemens companion CD contains an automated installation script (Setup.iss / InstSQL.exe) that configures the named instance WinCC and silences all Microsoft interactive dialogues. The WinCC master installer validates these wrapper scripts before allowing the main installation to proceed.
Strict Collation Requirements: If an engineer manually installs standard SQL Server 2000 using default Windows collation (e.g., Latin1_General_CI_AS or dictionary sorting), WinCC project creation fails with database connection errors. WinCC strictly demands binary/case-insensitive collation SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS.
Service Pack 3a Specific Binary Check: WinCC V6.0 SP3 checks the exact build number of sqlservr.exe (Build 8.00.760 for SP3a). Retail CDs without SP3a or with newer Service Pack 4 (without appropriate Siemens hotfix updates) trigger version rejection errors.

WinCC Version and Microsoft SQL Server Compatibility Matrix

The following table summarizes the paired SQL Server versions across historical and modern WinCC / PCS 7 releases:

WinCC / PCS 7 VersionBundled Microsoft SQL Server VersionInstance NameOperating System SupportWinCC V6.0 / V6.0 SP3Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3a (32-bit)WinCCWindows 2000 / Windows XP Pro SP1/SP2WinCC V6.2 / PCS 7 V7.0Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP1/SP2 (32-bit)WinCCWindows XP Pro SP3 / Server 2003WinCC V7.0 / PCS 7 V7.1Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP4 (32-bit)WinCCWindows XP Pro SP3 / Server 2003 R2WinCC V7.2 / PCS 7 V8.0Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 (32-bit)WinCCWindows 7 SP1 / Server 2008 R2WinCC V7.4 / PCS 7 V9.0Microsoft SQL Server 2014 SP2 (64-bit)WinCCWindows 10 LTSB / Server 2016

Step-by-Step Procedure to Install SQL Server 2000 SP3a for WinCC

To resolve the missing prerequisite and complete the WinCC V6.0 installation:

Procure Official Siemens Media:
- Obtain the official installation CD titled 'SIMATIC WinCC Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3a' from your Siemens software package archive or authorized distributor.
- The CD label typically references MLFB 6AV6381-... or is bundled inside the WinCC V6.0 media box.
Mount and Launch SQL Server Setup:
- Insert the companion CD into the drive (or mount the ISO image in your virtual machine).
- When prompted by the main WinCC setup installer, point the file path browser to the CD root directory.
- If installing standalone prior to WinCC, open the CD and run Setup.exe from the Siemens wrapper folder.
- Permit the automated installer to configure the WinCC named instance without altering default paths.
Verify SQL Server Instance State:
- Once SQL Server installation completes, open Windows Services (services.msc).
- Confirm that service MSSQL$WINCC (SQL Server - WINCC instance) is set to Automatic and status is Started.
- Confirm that service SQLAgent$WINCC is configured.
Resume WinCC V6.0 Installation:
- Insert the primary WinCC V6.0 installation CD.
- The installer will detect the operational SQL Server instance, bypass the CD prompt, and install the WinCC engineering components cleanly.

Verification

Verify database and WinCC functionality:
1. In Windows XP, click Start -> Programs -> SIMATIC -> WinCC -> WinCC Explorer.
2. Create a new test project (Single-User Project); verify that WinCC successfully creates the project database files (.mdf and .ldf) without SQL timeout errors.
3. Open Graphics Designer and Tag Management; confirm that tags can be created and saved.
4. Start WinCC Runtime; verify that the runtime database attaches and starts logging alarms without SQL connection faults.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Security Vulnerability Notice: Microsoft SQL Server 2000 has reached end of support and contains critical security vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL Slammer worm). Isolate legacy systems on air-gapped networks.
Windows Compatibility: SQL Server 2000 is strictly incompatible with 64-bit operating systems and cannot run on Windows 7, Windows 10, or Windows Server 2016.
Commercial Accuracy Disclaimer: Verify legacy WinCC software entitlements (6AV6381-...) and transition roadmaps to modern PCS 7 releases through official Siemens authorized channels.

Engineer FAQ

Can I use a standard Microsoft SQL Server 2000 CD to install WinCC V6.0?

No. Standard retail media lacks Siemens automated setup scripts and fails to establish the specific collation and instance name required by WinCC.

What is the instance name used by WinCC in SQL Server 2000?

WinCC installs a dedicated named instance called 'WinCC' (service name MSSQL$WINCC).

Can I install SQL Server 2000 SP4 instead of SP3a?

WinCC V6.0 SP3 expects SP3a. SP4 requires specific Siemens hotfixes, otherwise WinCC setup may reject the database version.

Can WinCC V6.0 run on a 64-bit operating system?

No. WinCC V6.0 and SQL Server 2000 are strictly 32-bit applications and only run on Windows 2000 Professional/Server or Windows XP Professional (32-bit).