Comments on: SQL Server 2008 Install Nightmare

By: Artyom

Artyom — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 16:33:50 +0000

Thank you so much for the help I’ll hope it will work for me

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:56:56 +0000

Does this article also apply to SQLServer2008R2 SP1? I have a messed up installation. What is the sequence to install SQLServer2008R2 SP1 after the manual uninstall is done? Should I install SQLServer2008R2 first and then apply the SP1? I have been working on this for so many hours and days….

By: FS

FS — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:49:10 +0000

Thanks for this great article. It helps to clean up my uninstallation. I struggled failed installation many many times with different errors.
There is one thing to mention:
It seems SQL 2008 doesn’t recognize Windows 2008 R2. There was one article recommended to install Service Pack 1 of SQL 2008 first then do the SQL 2008 installation. It is backward but I think it helped me. I finally got the installation done. This SQL and OS combination was the vendor’s requirement.

By: Kevin3NF

Kevin3NF — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:54:17 +0000

I attempted a SQL 2008 R1 to R2 upgrade, which of course failed. Multiple other attempts failed as well. Manual cleanup failed until I found this article.

Many thanks!

Kevin3NF

By: brian

brian — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:16:16 +0000

great info…been working on a messed up installation for over 8 hours and it looks like your info got me over the hump. Thanks!!

By: Piyush

Piyush — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 04:49:03 +0000

I could resolve this in another way.

Firstly install Windows installer 4.5
1. If you have VS2008 – install service pack 2 for VS2008
2. Install WS-Management v1.1 (WindowsXP-KB936059-x86-ENU)
3. Install PowerShell 2.0 and its SDK (You might need to uninstall and install SDK once)
4. Now install SQL server 2008 and it should get installed

By: Jared Rypka-Hauer

Jared Rypka-Hauer — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:23:25 +0000

Sorry. I should specify that my issue was specifically “an arithmetic error has resulted in an overflow”, the resulting broken “install” of Reporting Services, and the gross inability of the typical repair or uninstall procedures to resolve the problem.

All so I could install SP1 and get on with my life. Urgh.

Anyway, your post gave me the registry key to look in and the fact that msiexec.exe can be used to run the uninstalls listed in that registry key. Without that I’d still be DITW. Thanks, a lot.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:27:45 +0000

Damn, i have been trying to install SQL server 2008 for a entire week, the first bad installation i did screw up the several others that followed, I looked a lot of times in google how to completly uninstall SQL so i could do the clean installation again, but nothing until I read your guide, I followed all the steps but the I got stuck in the MOF error…

I read in other page that I needed to actviate the WMI service, going to add or remove programs and then into turn on/off windows features, so I activated the service and clicked in repair at the installation wizard of SQL server, and everything went real fine, hope things keep that way…

By: Sanjay G

Sanjay G — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:10:25 +0000

Thanks for this post!!!! It saved me.

By: SQL recovery

SQL recovery — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:26:56 +0000

If this error is related to SQL database corruption then SQL recovery is required to resolve this kinda error. Once I too face an error while working on SQL. I got this error : Server can’t find the requested database table

I was afraid to lost my important data, then my friend suggested me to Try Stellar Phoenix SQL Recovery Software to repair my corrupted SQL database. I used the demo version first and after using it I was able to view my all SQL database. I was satisfied so I went for full version and saved my data.

By: Traci

Traci — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:34:13 +0000

I haven’t tried to follow your advice yet, but just wanted to thank you in advance.

Just lost 8 hrs trying various methods to fix the problem myself ("MOF syntax error"…). I suspected a clean uninstall what was needed.

By: è´§æž¶

è´§æž¶ — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:58:53 +0000

I’m unsure however if it will still fix my stupid problem. It says I can’t install it because I need Visual Studio 2008 SP1, well I’ve installed Visual Studio 2008 SP1 like three times already and it doesn’t fix the problem.

At least I’m gonna follow your manual uninstall guidelines and see if I can get a new, clean install.ï¼Ÿï¼Ÿï¼Ÿï¼Ÿï¼Ÿï¼Ÿï¼Ÿ

By: Toby

Toby — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:19:35 +0000

The correct link to ‘How to troubleshoot SQL Server 2008 Setup issues’ is:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-US/sql/database-engine/install-windows/view-and-read-sql-server-setup-log-files?view=sql-server-ver15

By: Skurmedel

Skurmedel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:52:26 +0000

This helps a lot, thanks.

At least I’m gonna follow your manual uninstall guidelines and see if I can get a new, clean install.