I'm trying to install SQL Server 2012 Express in a Windows 7 Enterprise machine but always get this error when installing the named instance MAPS:
Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes.
The database engine does not start, even tried to change the user for local system or account.
It's important to refer that I've already had SQL 2012 Express installed and working in this machine, with the named instance MAPS. I can install other instances with other names, but not this one.
Because the previous install was for testing purposes and I now wanted to work on a clean install & DB I've uninstalled SQL and deleted the remaining folders in Programs and Programs (x86), including the local SQL user folders.
In the final stage of the setup I get the message "Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes."
Looking at the logs the error was "component error code 0x851A0019":
Detailed results:
Feature: Database Engine Services
Status: Failed: see logs for details
Reason for failure: An error occurred during the setup process of the feature.
Next Step: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.
Component name: SQL Server Database Engine Services Instance Features
Component error code: 0x851A0019
Error description: Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes.
Error help link:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkId=20476&ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=setup.rll&EvtID=50000&ProdVer=11.0.2100.60&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4025&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4025
Feature: SQL Browser
Status: Passed
Feature: SQL Writer
Status: Passed
Feature: SQL Client Connectivity
Status: Passed
Feature: SQL Client Connectivity SDK
Status: Passed
After many many hours searching the web and almost as many trial and error procedures, I've almost certain that the error resides in the registry, on the key HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1125719120-3159512075-4029346314-500 that remained after the SQL uninstall and
now the setup program can't overwrite.
I tried the manually delete the registry key but I can't, I always get a message indicating that there was an error deleting the key. I've also tried the usual, like changing the ownership and rights for this key, with no success. Most probably the key is corrupted.
I have also tried installing SQL and uninstalling again, with the same errors.
I am almost certain that if I could delete that registry key all my problems would go away, well, not all, but at least this one...
Can anyone help me on this?