I can't get SQL Server to install and I can't figure out why.

All I am doing is trying to install SQL Server 2000 on my Windows XP
Pro (SP2) dev machine.
But it just hangs - the processes SETUPSQL.EXE and SQLSTP.exe load and
do nothing...

Here is the full chain of events that has lead me to this impasse:

1) Try to install Sql Reporting Services. This needs a SQL Server
installation to attach to. Fair enough.
2) Installed Sql Server 2000, no problems.
3) Try and install SRS. Need Sql Server 2000 SP3. No problem.
4) Attempt to install SP3a. Install hangs. No windows are open.
Nothing.
5) Uninstall Sql Server 2000. Reinstall. Hangs.
6) Try again. Get told setup is already running.
7) Look at processes and notice SETUPSQL.EXE and SQLSTP.exe. So I kill
them.
8) Reboot
9) Try and install Sql Server 200 again. Hangs.
10) Repeat.....

Now I have nothing! Not even the client tools (Ent Manager, Query
Analyzer...) which I really need.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

It would probably be worth following the steps for a manual uninstall,
to make sure that you've really removed all MSSQL components:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290991/

After that, you should be able to reinstall MSSQL itself. As for SP3a
(SP4 is available, by the way), if the installation fails, then the
first place to check would be the sqlsp.log file - it should give you
some more detailed information.

And if you have any special considerations (installing on a cluster
etc), then check the SP3a readme to make sure you've done everything
correctly:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.../sp3readme.asp

Simon

Thanks for the suggestion. Even after painstakingly running through
those uninstall steps, the result is the same. The installer just
hangs.

The only steps that really applied were deleting these keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server

And deleting these directories..

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80
C:\Temp
LocalSettings\Temp

As a side note - I do not really need to install a database on this
machine, but I do need the client tools (Query Analyzer etc). Is there
a way I can just install/copy these? The installer does not even get
that far.

Thanks,
Andrew

Simon Hayes wrote:
> It would probably be worth following the steps for a manual uninstall,
> to make sure that you've really removed all MSSQL components:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290991/
>
> After that, you should be able to reinstall MSSQL itself. As for SP3a
> (SP4 is available, by the way), if the installation fails, then the
> first place to check would be the sqlsp.log file - it should give you
> some more detailed information.
>
> And if you have any special considerations (installing on a cluster
> etc), then check the SP3a readme to make sure you've done everything
> correctly:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.../sp3readme.asp
>
> Simon

If the MSSQL installer fails, then check sqlstp.log for more
information; if the service pack installation fails, check sqlsp.log.
Also see Q34 here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=sql2k

If you only need the client tools, I seem to remember there's a batch
file on the CD which will install them, but it might be for SMS and not
really for interactive use. It could still be worth checking out,
though.

Simon

Wow, it looks like something is seriously buggered.
I don't even have any files with those names in C:\Windows

I tried stopping "all non-essential" services as well. No luck.

I am starting to suspect MDAC. I am going to try and install this
manually.