SQL Server 7.0: Installation Issues


In this article I want to tell you about some problems, which you can have
when you install SQL Server 7.0, and how you can resolve these problems.

If you have problems with installation, check the following:

1. Check the hardware requirements.

You should have:

  • Alpha AXP, Intel or compatible platform

  • Pentium 166 MHz or higher (Pentium Pro, Pentium II and compatible)

  • 32MB RAM (minimum), 64MB RAM and more (recommended)

  • 180MB (full installation), 170MB (typical), 65MB (minimum),
    90MB (management tools only) plus 50MB for OLAP Services
    and 12MB for the English Query
  • 2. Check the software requirements.

    You should have:

    For Desktop Edition:

  • Windows 95

  • Windows 95 OSR2

  • Windows 98

  • Windows NT Server/Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 4

  • Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition

  • Windows 2000 (all editions)
  • For Standard Edition:

  • Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 4

  • Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition

  • Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server/Datacenter
  • For Enterprise Edition:

  • Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition

  • Windows 2000 Advanced Server/Datacenter
  • 3. Check the hardware compatibility list.

    For more information about the specific supported hardware, look at the
    hardware compatibility list at
    http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/hcl/

    4. Login with the administrator level permissions on the machine.

    SQL Server needs these permissions to create registry entries, create
    services and so on.

    5. Check that network card or Microsoft loopback adapter presents
    on the machine.

    SQL Server needs to use network functionality, so you should have
    network card, or dummy driver Microsoft loopback adapter, which
    pretends to be a network card 🙂

    6. Use the LocalSystem account for MSSQLServer and SQLServerAgent
    services.

    You can change it later to appropriate account, and you will have more
    chance to install SQL Server without problems.

    7. Before reinstall SQL Server 7.0, delete the following registry
    entries:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesMSSQLServer

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesSQLServerAgent

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftMSSQLServer

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftMicrosoft SQL Server 7

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftMSSQLServ70

    and delete the target installation directory (C:MSSQL7 by default).

    8. For upgrade from version 6.5, check that the default database for
    the login ‘sa’ is master.

    9. You can stop some services, which can cause installation failure.

    Stop the following services/close the following programs:

  • IIS – Internet Information Server

  • PWS – Personal Web Server

  • Exchange Server

  • SNA Server

  • Disk Keeper

  • SNMP Service
  • For more details see:

    Troubleshooting SQL Installation and Connection Problems
    Are there any extraneous services running, and do you have
    network connectivity?

    http://support.microsoft.com/support/SQL/Content/setup/setup1.asp?LN=EN-US&SD=SO&FR=0

    10. For upgrade from MSDE to SQL Server 7.0, maybe necessary to edit
    some registry entries.

    If you receive the following error:


    You cannot install a version which is older (7.00.623) than the
    version on your machine (7.00.677). Uninstall the older version.


    then you should amend

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/MSSQLServer/MSSQLServer/CurrentVersion
    to have a value of 7.00.623.

    For more details see:

    Q234915 – FIX: Upgrade to SQL Server Fails When MSDE Installed from MOD

    http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q234/9/15.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=SO&FR=0

    11. For more details about installation errors see the following
    files:

  • sqlstp.log (located in your Windows or WinNT directory)

  • errorlog file (located in the MSSQL7Log directory)

  • cnfgsvr.out file (located in the MSSQL7Install directory)

  • »


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    Alexander Chigrik

    Alexander Chigrik
    Alexander Chigrik
    I am the owner of MSSQLCity.Com - a site dedicated to providing useful information for IT professionals using Microsoft SQL Server. This site contains SQL Server Articles, FAQs, Scripts, Tips and Test Exams.

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