Info:
the machine's OS is XP Professional with SP2
sql server 2000 developer's edition installed and running

a bit of 'history'
last night I first tried to install sql server 2005 express but the
instruction text to the effect of "not entire Analysis service will be
available and the like" made me abort installation mid-way.
which may have MISTAKENLY registered this machine as having a copy of
sql server 2005 express installed already by the installation utility
program.

Problem:
Attempt to install the core engine of "SQL Server Database Services"
failed, "SQL native client" installation also failed. Can't quickly
tell which log file is about the core engine installation failure from
the installation log files.

What's my "optimal" course of action?

Thanks.

P.S. to Erland, sorry for not having responded to your previous help/
answer

Don Li (tatata9999 (AT) gmail (DOT) com) writes:
I would first try to uninstall everything with SQL 2005 that you see in
Add/Remove Programs.

The log files are in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap. The names gives
some hint what they are about, but they are overly verbose, and finding
the reason for failure can be tedious.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel (AT) sommarskog (DOT) se

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...ads/books.mspx
Books Online for SQL Server 2000 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinf...ons/books.mspx

On Dec 8, 3:16 pm, Erland Sommarskog <esq... (AT) sommarskog (DOT) se> wrote:
Erland, that's exactly what I did after posting the msg for help and
boom, it went fine. Sorry I should have posted the note sooner and
thanks.

Don