I have been trying to resolve an issue while installing SQL Server 2008 Express on a Windows XP SP3 machine. I kept getting an “Access is Denied” error in the logs.
Here’s the error itself :
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigNonRC and scenario ConfigNonRC.
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Access is denied
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigNonRC and scenario ConfigNonRC.
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): Access is denied
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.RsFxConfiguration.Install()
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.FilestreamConfiguration.Install()
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.SetupFilestream(EffectiveProperties properties)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.Install_ConfigNonRC_Prepare(EffectiveProperties properties)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.Install(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.PrivateConfigurationBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SqlFeatureConfigBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream)
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Exception: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception.
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Source: Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlServer_ConfigExtension.
2012-06-20 09:27:58 Slp: Message: Access is denied.
I tried the steps mentioned on MULTIPLE websites that all basically copied this KB article. Unfortunately, that didn’t help. So, I kept digging.. and digging.. and digging. I finally was reminded of Process Explorer, which can be downloaded here, and I ran that while the setup was running to figure out what access was being “denied.”
Keep in mind, these steps are for Windows XP SP3 and they assume that your account is in the Administrators group. So, if you’re troubleshooting on Windows Vista, 7, or one of the Server products, the steps may be different. And if you don’t have Administrator access, you’ll need to get that too. But, here’s what I did to solve my problem.
Open RegEdit.
Browse to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI
Right-click on Security and open Permissions.
Make sure the Administrators group has Full Control.
If Administrators do not have Full Control, click the checkbox under “allow,” next to Full Control.
