Lowest common sql provider installed by default on windows

Question

Can anyone tell me what data providers are installed by default on windows xp and above for accessing sql server, im looking for (and hoping) that there is a common OLEDB provider, or sql native provider that i could use (for performant reasons ODBC is out of the running) The intended provider must be installed by default as a requirement for distrbution is that nothing can be installed. If one such provider exists could you also provide a connection string.

Answer 1

A vanilla install of Windows XP SP3 I did recently has the SQL 2000 OLEDB driver included. I can't speak for earlier service packs.

Connection string here.

Answer 2

Reference: Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) Installation

• MDAC 2.7 RTM is pre-installed on Windows XP
• MDAC 2.8 SP1 with XP SP2

"SQLOLEDB" is the provider

One hopes you have nothing earlier than XP SP2...