java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: com.microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver

If you are seeing this exception while trying to use the SQL Server 2005 JDBC driver, then you will need to update the application.

The class name has changed between the SQL Server 2000 JDBC driver and the SQL Server 2005 JDBC driver.  This particular class "com.microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver" is the class name for the SQL Server 2000 JDBC driver.  The SQL Server 2005 JDBC driver class name is "com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver".
Note the change: from "microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver" to "microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc"

In addition, the SQL Server 2005 JDBC driver has a different URL prefix from the SQL Server 2000 JDBC driver.  The SQL Server 2000 JDBC driver uses an URL prefix of "jdbc:microsoft:sqlserver://", while the SQL Server 2005 JDBC driver uses an URL prefix of "jdbc:sqlserver:// ".
Note the removal of "microsoft" from the URL prefix.

For additional information on all the different Connection string properties, please refer to the following MSDN topic: https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms378428(SQL.90).aspx

Jimmy Wu, SQL Server
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights