Trying to remove Service Pack 3 to install SQL Express 2005

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nate

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#31110 5-Mar-2009 00:06

I maintain a small intranet app hosted on a mate's computer. Couple weeks back he had issues with the computer not booting up, so (without my knowledge) he ran it down to his local computer store and they reformatted and put all his programs back on.

The computer is running WinXP Professional, and has Service Pack 3 on it. I've tried installing SQL Express 2005 many times but it keeps failing, and research is telling me that SP3 and SQL Express don't play together nice. This is also the only thing I can see that has changed since the reformat (it used to run SP2).

I've read Microsoft's guides on how to remove SP3 but none of them work, to me it seems the computer place reinstalled XP with SP3 disks. SP3 doesn't appear in Add/Remove Programs and the uninstaller doesn't appear in the Windows folder.

Screenshot of the system, any ideas of how to remove SP3 would be great.

Regs

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Snowflake

#199319 5-Mar-2009 00:24

do you have to use sql 2005 version sql express? or can you try sql 2008 version instead? most sql 2k5 apps i work with seem fine on 2k8 so far

alternatively:

Some analysis done by the SQL team has shown that even though you get an error about certain MSXML files not being updated, this error does not actually interfere with the installation of SQL Express; you can continue on in the installation and SQL Express will ultimately install successfully. The main issue here is that most people tend to cancel when they see the error rather than continue on. The workaround here is to just continue on.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/0542d9f5-a92e-480d-9f03-94aa0867dc7f/

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nate

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#199322 5-Mar-2009 02:28

Maybe my issue lies with something else on the system as it seems the service installs but it just won't start.

gehenna

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#199340 5-Mar-2009 08:02

As Regs suggests, have you tried SQL Express 2008?

RedJungle

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#199342 5-Mar-2009 08:06

What does the event log say?

vexxxboy

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#199377 5-Mar-2009 10:53

i have installed and unistalled SP3 2-3 times on my pc, it is easy to remove go to add or remove programs in the control panel make sure the update box is ticked and it should be there under windows service pack 3, it is on mine , click remove it takes a while

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Regs

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Snowflake

#199541 5-Mar-2009 23:28

vexxxboy: i have installed and unistalled SP3 2-3 times on my pc, it is easy to remove go to add or remove programs in the control panel make sure the update box is ticked and it should be there under windows service pack 3, it is on mine , click remove it takes a while

that only works if you install service pack 3 manually. if you build the PC with a Windows XP SP3 intgrated media kit you dont have that option

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#199543 5-Mar-2009 23:30

nate:

Maybe my issue lies with something else on the system as it seems the service installs but it just won't start.

Try disabling any antivirus/antimalware and firewalls while you perform the install in case something is blocking it. Also, there should be a setup log file that tells you what errors are being encountered

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nate

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#199593 6-Mar-2009 11:43

Regs: that only works if you install service pack 3 manually. if you build the PC with a Windows XP SP3 intgrated media kit you dont have that option

That's what I thought, I was pulling my hair out trying to find out where SP3 was hiding. Is there anyway to remove it if you've installed it this way?

Regs: Try disabling any antivirus/antimalware and firewalls while you perform the install in case something is blocking it. Also, there should be a setup log file that tells you what errors are being encountered

I've uninstalled NOD32 and removed anything else that I think could interfer. I will have another crack at it tonight.

Regs

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#199647 6-Mar-2009 17:29

nate:
Regs: that only works if you install service pack 3 manually. if you build the PC with a Windows XP SP3 intgrated media kit you dont have that option

That's what I thought, I was pulling my hair out trying to find out where SP3 was hiding. Is there anyway to remove it if you've installed it this way?

unfortunately, no. if you still have problems i'd try either the silent install option, or try installing 2008 express instead.

today i installed a MS CRM client machine which installs a copy of sql express 2k5 as part of the install and it completed no problem on a winxp sp3 machine so the product definately works ok. At a stretch you could always d/l and install the CRM client and then just use the crm sql instance :)

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moderntalking123

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#199680 6-Mar-2009 21:47

Regs:
nate:
Regs: that only works if you install service pack 3 manually. if you build the PC with a Windows XP SP3 intgrated media kit you dont have that option

That's what I thought, I was pulling my hair out trying to find out where SP3 was hiding. Is there anyway to remove it if you've installed it this way?

unfortunately, no. if you still have problems i'd try either the silent install option, or try installing 2008 express instead.

today i installed a MS CRM client machine which installs a copy of sql express 2k5 as part of the install and it completed no problem on a winxp sp3 machine so the product definately works ok. At a stretch you could always d/l and install the CRM client and then just use the crm sql instance :)

This is exactly the same as my problem, i've been searching the whole web to find a solution about this, i am really in an urgent need of SQL server and i am unable to uninstall SP3 as it is built in.

please describe more about what i can do! i've heard 2008 express is also not working in this situation,(not tested)

would you please clarify what this CRM client machine is, and where i can download that or any other option for installing SQL server on XP SP3!

Thank you in advance...

Regs

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Snowflake

#199695 6-Mar-2009 23:03

moderntalking123:
would you please clarify what this CRM client machine is, and where i can download that or any other option for installing SQL server on XP SP3!

CRM Client:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=60c4a6cc-59d7-416e-9f44-0ae8ff249768

Choose the "Advanced" or "Offline Access" install and it will download and install a sql express engine from the internet. You must have the .Net 3.0 framework and Outlook 2003SP3 or Outlook 2007 installed already. Once installed you can then uninstall the client but leave the sql express engine behind.

Have either of you guys tried downloading a new version of the SQL Express setup program?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=220549b5-0b07-4448-8848-dcc397514b41&displaylang=en

While the file name will be the same as one you downloaded a year ago, the actual setup program will have been updated. Perhaps if you are using an older version then a new download will help.

Also, open the sql error log (if exists) and look for more detailed errors for why the sql is not starting. log exists at:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.n\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG

(n will be 1 if there is only one engine installed, but it could be anything)

Also check the following KB Article too:
Error message when you try to install SQL Server Express or SQL Server Express Edition or SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services: "The SQL Server service failed to start"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920114

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nate

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#199787 7-Mar-2009 18:00

FINALLY got SQL Express 2005 installed and working.

Here's what I did:

Removed NOD32 just in case it was interfering with the install
Download and installed Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services
When I unchecked the hide advanced feature option, one option I did change was to start the service after install - the service installed, I changed a couple of settings, started SQL Express and now it works fine.

Thanks Regs for all your ideas.