SQL 2012 Express, Prepare and Complete Image

Hi All,

I have a problem that is very similar to the one reported here: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/771492e5-c271-491c-9bd6-8ec01e65e96c/sql2012-express-completeimage-for-sysprep-fail-for-quotdoes-not-meet-upgrade-matrix?forum=sqlsetupandupgrade

I have to rollout 1500 laptops each with SQL 2012 Express to run a Kiosk based app. Previously we used SQL 2008 R2 and did an unattended installation on each device after the OS was laid down. This time around I am trying to make use of the Prepare and Complete processes so I can get most of the SQL installation as part of our Windows base image. This is all being delivered via SCCM.

I have reviewed and considered all of these articles:

• https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210754.aspx
• https://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/library/dd239405(v=sql.110).aspx
• https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210754.aspx#BKMK_PrepareImage

I am using SQL Advanced x64 SP2 running on Windows 7 x64 Enterprise Edition.

Steps:

A) I used a virtual machine to create the Prepare image configuration file so that I can automate this step when creating the "real" Windows 7 reference machine. 

1. I started with "setup.exe /uimode=normal /action=prepareimage"
2. I completed the preparation wizard and grabbed the configurationfile.ini following that step.
3. I let the prepareimage process complete so that I could then use the same machine to create the CompleteImage configuration file.

B) Once I had the two configuration I prepared the real windows 7 reference machine.

1. I installed SQL using "setup.exe /uimode=normal /action=prepareimage /configurationfile=Prepare.ini /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS"
2. This step was successful. SQL laid down its binary files and created the start menu programs. I made sure by reviewing the summary.txt file to make sure the installation had no issues. 

C) Once prepared I captured the Windows 7 reference machine and added that image to an SCCM task sequence. 

1. I built a device using that task sequence and that also worked well.
2. I left the Complete Image step out of the task sequence so that I could test this manually
3. Once built I started and elevated command prompt and navigated to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Setup Bootstrap\SQLServer2012\"
4. I ran setup.exe /action=completeimage /configurationfile=Complete.ini /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS
5. This resulted in and error : "RANU is supported only for SQL Server Express.". After researching this I edited the complete.ini configuration file and set "EnableRANU=True" to False. 
6. Setting this to false resulted in a new error which was "The selected SQL Server instance does not meet upgrade matrix requirements."

Everything is pointing to the fact that SQL is somehow in Evaluation mode. 

The article "https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210754.aspx" states the following:

• Non-Express editions of SQL Server:

  • The Prepare Image step uses SQL Server Evaluation edition to install the product binaries. When the instance is completed, the edition of SQL Server depends on the product ID provided during the complete image step.

  • If you provide an Evaluation edition product ID, the evaluation period is set to expire 180 days after the prepared instance is completed.

• Express editions of SQL Server:

  • To prepare an instance of SQL Server Express editions, use the Express installation media.

It clearly states here that non-SQL Express editions goes into evaluation mode. It seems, however that Express does the same. However it also states that that a product ID cannot be supplied for a SQL Express prepared image.

If I run the /action=CompleteImage without the configuration INI file the wizard works as expected. When I get up to to the Product ID dialogue I can pick from Evaluation or Express. This seems to confirm that Express is going into Evaluation mode. The "RANU is supported only for SQL Server Express." error message also indicates that when running a CompleteImage using an INI file somehow it defaults to Evaluation mode.

At this point I am a bit stuck. Any suggestions would be great.

NSutton