Question: I'm trying to find and create/import the Northwind database to practice my Linq-fu.

I cannot find it for the life of me, searching just turns me to this page, which in turn tells me to find it on the official page which isn't there.

<http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms227484%28v=vs.90%29.aspx>

Where can I find the Northwind database?

Answer: 
Northwind doesn't come installed with SQL Server 2008. You can instead:

* [download *scripts* for creating the Northwind and pubs sample databases](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=06616212-0356-46A0-8DA2-EEBC53A68034&displaylang=en).
* [download Northwind and pubs MDF/LDF from Microsoft](http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/northwind/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=1401). The article is titled "SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases".

They come in SQL Server 2000 format / compatibility mode. Microsoft seems to have stopped using these 2 in favour of the new sample database for SQL Server 2008: AdventureWorks.

You can [download AdventureWorks 2008 R2 SR1](http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/releases/view/55926). 

Microsoft has its [SQL Server Product Database samples at CodePlex](http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/).
Try this for a step by step tutorial on how to find the download and install the Northwind and Pubs databases for Sql Server 2008. 

[northwind database sql server 2008](http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/InstallingNorthwindAndPub.aspx)