SQL Server error on boot
JohnH
I installed Microsoft Accounting on my desktop only to discover that it is
not available for UK use. A Microsoft technician helped me to uninstall it
all and in the process appears to have damaged the SQL processes on my
machine. Now, each time I re start my machine I receive an error message that
prevents the machine from booting further until it has been cleared. Error
message is as follows:
"Header: Support Code: 8503001f
SQL Server
SQL Server could not find the specified named instance (PINNACLESYS) -
please specify the name of an existing instance on the invocation od
sqlsrvr.exe. If you believe that your installation is corrupt or has been
tampered with, uninstall then re-run setup to correct this problem."
I have no idea how to reinstall SQL Server but I have uninstalled and then
reinstalled my copy of Studio 11 (the Pinnacle video editing software that I
presumed was causing the problem). This made no difference at all and Studio
11 seems to be working fine. The error message is a dratted nuisance but
other than on boot up, the error appears to cause no particular problems. Can
anyone point me to a solution to get rid of the problem please?
Many thanks.
--
John
Erland Sommarskog
command line, which is a bit unusual. Normally it runs as a service.
But so much is clear, you have on instance SQL Server on the machine -
the error message comes from the sqlservr executable. But apparently the
installation is not good. Although, good enough for the Pinnacle software
not to repair on reinstall!
It seems that you need to reinstall SQL Server itself. Presumably, this
is the Express Edition, which is freely available for download. But
we would need to know for sure. Can you try this? Search your disks
for sqlservr.exe, and when you find it for instance in
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe",
open a command line window and run it with -v as argument and post
the output.
--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esq...@sommarskog.se
Links for SQL Server Books Online:
SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx
SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx
SQL 2000: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/previousversions/books.mspx
JohnH
Header: Support Code: 8503001f. I am sorry if I have misled anyone .... but I
am still hoping for a solution to the problem.
Many thanks,
John
--
John
JohnH
--
John
JohnH
Very many thanks for the quick reply.
I have possibly misled you regarding the point at which the error message is
received. It always appears on screen shortly after the XP login dialog is
presented. If I am quick in logging on to Windows, the error message is the
next item to appear on screen. Until I have clicked the OK button, the
installation of XP items will not proceed. Once I have OK'd out of the error
dialog everything proceeds OK.
I carried out the search you suggested and there are no instances of
sqlservr.exe on any of my 3 drives. So I think you're probably correct in
saying that I need to reinstall SQL Server. The version I would have on my
machine is certain to be the express version as I have never (knowingly)
bought a version of SQL Server. Are you able to point me to an address where
I can download and reinstall please?
Thanks again,
John
--
John
Erland Sommarskog
> I carried out the search you suggested and there are no instances of
> sqlservr.exe on any of my 3 drives. So I think you're probably correct
> in saying that I need to reinstall SQL Server. The version I would have
> on my machine is certain to be the express version as I have never
> (knowingly) bought a version of SQL Server. Are you able to point me to
> an address where I can download and reinstall please?
because the error message comes from the executable itself. But Windows
does not always seems think that finding such files is not good for your
health. (Although, Vista seems to be a lot worse than XP in this regard.)
Anyway, I have concluded that you have the Express Edtion, and that you have
SQL 2005. (Had you had SQL 2008, there would probably not have been an
error message, just an empty message box!)
My theory is also that you have a so-called user-instance, which lives
under your Documents and Settings. But this user instance needs a main
instance, and presumably the uninstall of Microsoft Account blew that
one away.
You can download SQL Express SQL 2005 SP3 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3181842a-4090-4431-
acdd-9a1c832e65a6&displaylang=en
But just don't click Next through the Install! At some point you should
give the instance name, and the default name is SQLEXPRESS. But you want
PINNACLESYS.
Now, let's only hope that Pinnacle does not need any databases in the
main instances. In that case, you will have some more problems...
JohnH
I found the copy - it was on my external backup drive and when I tried to
install SQLEXPR32 the installation hung and no amount of retries would get it
to continue. The dialog I got was:
"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."
I guess that's because its trying to install via a USB connection and that
ain't on. Now I'm thoroughly out of my depth!
--
John
Erland Sommarskog
> I found the copy - it was on my external backup drive and when I tried
> to install SQLEXPR32 the installation hung and no amount of retries
> would get it to continue. The dialog I got was:
>
> "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."
>
> I guess that's because its trying to install via a USB connection and that
> ain't on. Now I'm thoroughly out of my depth!
No, I don't think so. But I agree that your prospects are starting to
look a little bleak.
But try this. Under the Start Menu, you should find SQL Server Configuration
Manager in the SQL Server Program group. Start this. Under the first node,
"SQL Server Services", you should see "SQL Server (PINNACLESYS)". Right-
click and select Start.
Trying to sort out install problems over newsgroups is always difficult,
and since you don't seem to be a regular SQL Server player, it seems
even more difficult. Is it possible that Pinnacle has a support desk
that could help you?
JohnH
Sorry for the delay - I've been out of the office for a few days.
I did contact Pinnacle and they seemed unable to help. I spent ages with
their helpdesk for Studio 11 but they seemed unable (or perhaps unprepared)
to deal with the problem. I'm beginning to think that the only solution will
be a clean install of XP (and all other software). I guess it's overdue as
its been a couple of years since I last did it.
I did look under the Start menu in All Programs and could find not reference
to SQL Server Configuration Manager or the SQL Server Program group. In
Program Files there are two references. The first is Microsoft SQL Server
(containing 3 folders labelled 80, 90 and MSSQL.1. All 3 folders contain
additional folders and/or files) and the second is Microsoft SQL Server
Compact Edition (containing a single folder v3.1).
It sounds as though the task of sorting this via the user forum may be too
daunting and I shall understand fully if you want to call it a day. I shall
then either do a fresh install of XP or I'll wait for Windows 7.
Many thanks for your efforts in trying to help me.
--
John
Erland Sommarskog
> I did contact Pinnacle and they seemed unable to help. I spent ages with
> their helpdesk for Studio 11 but they seemed unable (or perhaps
> unprepared) to deal with the problem. I'm beginning to think that the
> only solution will be a clean install of XP (and all other software). I
> guess it's overdue as its been a couple of years since I last did it.
Who wants reinstall a machine? I hate it everytime I have to do it -
be that because of a hardware problem, or because I get new box or
OS. It takes ages to get everything in place.
> I did look under the Start menu in All Programs and could find not
> reference to SQL Server Configuration Manager or the SQL Server Program
> group. In Program Files there are two references. The first is Microsoft
> SQL Server (containing 3 folders labelled 80, 90 and MSSQL.1. All 3
> folders contain additional folders and/or files) and the second is
> Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition (containing a single folder v3.1)
It is the folder with MSSQL.1 that holds the remnants of the missing
instance. Not you will have much use for that piece of information.
One more option is to open a support case with Microsoft. But they are
likely to charge you an arm and a leg. Or did you say that a Microsoft
person helped you to uninstall Microsoft Accounting? After all, it seems
to be a bug in that uninstall that caused the problem. So from that point
of view, they should refund you. But I would not take that for granted.
JohnH
uninstalling the whole SQL installation, using a program called Revo
Uninstaller. I've used it before and it can be configured to remove all
traces of a software package. I now have six instances of SQL software
showing up when I scan with Revo Uninstaller. These are:
Hotfix 2050 for SQL Server 2000 ENU (KB948110) - Cannot ID a location
Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition (ENU) - In C:\Progarm Files\MS SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (PINNACLESYS) - Cannot ID a location
Microsoft SQL Server Native Client - In C:\Prgram Files\MS SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support Files (English) - In C:\Program Files\MS
SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap
Microsoft SQL Server VSS Writer - In C:\Program Files\MS SQL Server (with
subfolders: 80, 90, MSSQL.1)
My thinking is to remove all traces of SQL, including PINNACLESYS and then
to reinstall SQL and if necessary, reinstall Pinnacle's Studio package. Just
one last question for you - Can I remove all the above instances without
causing terminal problems with my machine?
Very many thanks for all your help and support - all much appreciated.
Regards,
John
--
John
Erland Sommarskog
> Hello Erland - Thanks for the reply. I've decided to have one more go at
> uninstalling the whole SQL installation, using a program called Revo
> Uninstaller. I've used it before and it can be configured to remove all
> traces of a software package. I now have six instances of SQL software
> showing up when I scan with Revo Uninstaller. These are:
>
> Hotfix 2050 for SQL Server 2000 ENU (KB948110) - Cannot ID a location
> Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition (ENU) - In C:\Progarm Files\MS SQL
> Server
> Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (PINNACLESYS) - Cannot ID a location
> Microsoft SQL Server Native Client - In C:\Prgram Files\MS SQL Server
> Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support Files (English) - In C:\Program
> Files\MS SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap
> Microsoft SQL Server VSS Writer - In C:\Program Files\MS SQL Server (with
> subfolders: 80, 90, MSSQL.1)
>
> My thinking is to remove all traces of SQL, including PINNACLESYS and
> then to reinstall SQL and if necessary, reinstall Pinnacle's Studio
> package. Just one last question for you - Can I remove all the above
> instances without causing terminal problems with my machine?
>
> Very many thanks for all your help and support - all much appreciated.
is not meant to be SQL 2005, but SQL 2000. Else it would not say
Desktop Engine. But some of the other files are definitely from
SQL 2005. Note that these are not server instances, but they are
just SQL Server related install items.
Yes, I think that you could just as well try to nuke them. But if
you have a machine to spare, I would first try to make an install
of Pinnacle to see if that works out, and if you get an instance
of SQL 2000 MSDE. Else it's probably not worth the effort.
JohnH
Studio 11 is running fine on that so I'm just going to nuke the whole
shooting match on my desktop and see what I end up with. I'll let you know
how I get on .... thanks for all your help.
John
--
John
JohnH
Just getting back to you to let you know that the uninstall using Revo
Uninstall seems to have cleared all instances of SQL Server from all my
drives. More importantly I guess, the machine seems to be unaffected.
I made a start with reinstalling SQL Server Express as you suggested but the
software began to install on my backup drive (an external USB drive). There
does not appear to be any way to reconfigure the installation location so I
guess I shall have to disconnect my USB drive and then try again. I'm not in
any particular hurry so I'll do it when I can.
Many thanks for all your help.
Kind regards,
John
--
John