Installing SQL 2008 SSMS

When I tried to install SSMS, I received the error:

• A previous release of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is installed on this computer. Upgrade Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 to the SP1 before installing SQL Server 2008.
  

So I installs SP1 ... to no avail.

So I uninstalled and reinstalled SQL 2008 ... no help.

So I uninstalled SQL AND Visual Studio, so I could install SQL first.... Same Error!!!!

Finally I stumbled accross this piece of wisdom: http://blogs.lessthandot.com/index.php/DataMgmt/?blog=3&title=rule-previous-releases-of-microsoft-visu&disp=single&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
namely: setup.exe /ACTION=install /SkipRules=VSShellInstalledRule

So I installed SSMS with the switch and it worked! (Then I had to reinstall Visual Studio :)

Thanks Mark!