Possible Fix SQL Server 2005 Express Install Errors 29503 or 1067

Hello,

I spent days trying repeatedly to install SQL Server 2005 Express edition and always received an error message. I uninstalled SQL Server 2000, cleaned the registry, uninstalled/reinstalled Visual Basic 2005 Express, read all the forums and tried every combination. I always received this failure message:

The SQL Server service failed to start. For more information, see the SQL Server Books Online topics, "How to: View SQL Server 2005 Setup Log Files" and "Starting SQL Server Manually." The error is (1067) The process terminated unexpectedly. Error Number : 29503

If this is the particular error you are receiving, then maybe this post will help.

The solution for me was NOT to uninstall Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition, or install SQL Server 2005 in any particular order vs installing VB 2005 Express.

These are the steps that worked for me. Run setup for SQL Server 2005 Express. On the first setup screen, there is a checkbox that says "Hide advanced setup/installation options" (or somesuch). It is checked by default. UNCHECK IT. (You DO want to select advanced options because the defaults are not working for you.)

Look closely at the screens that follow. Look for the dropdown that says "Install SQL Server as a... Network Service. In the dropdown, change the choice to Local Service.

In another screen, look for the Authentication method. Do NOT use Windows authentication, which is the default. Select Mixed Mode authentication, and provide a strong password.

Now, let it install. For me, it no longer failed. SQL Server installed with no further problems.

Hope this helps somebody (including MS in figuring out how come). It worked for me when nothing else did!

SQL Wizard (who?)

SQl Wizard - I am having this exact same issue on my win xp pro sp2 machine. However, I tried what you suggested and still got the same error. I also had sql 2000 installed prior (uninstalled it prior to installing sql 2005) - did you clean up anything in the registry before you started?

Thanks for your help.....

csqlrun