I get the following error when trying to launch SQL Server Managment Studio
2008:
"An error has occurred while trying to access the license validation file.
Please reinstall SQL Server to correct this file."

I have tried a repair and I reinstalled SQL Server 2008 and I still get same
error.
Additional details:
1) Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 SP2, SQL Server 2008 Enterprise
Edition
2) Was working fine for a few months. I do not see any updates happening
around the day it started to fail.
3) I can still query the SQL/AS databases from reporting services. I can
still run SSBIDS and modify/run Analysis Services databases.
4) Report server is up and running.
5) Installed SQL 2008 as an upgrade to 2005

Basically, everything related to SQL server 2008 seems to be working fine
except I cannot lauch SQL Server Management Studio 2008.

Thank You,
Dan Zaccarine

Is it possible you are running Evaluation Edition? SSMS does not check any
license file to run, as far as I'm aware. Does this happen immediately, or
after you try to connect to something? Do you have any 3rd party tools or
add-ins installed? Nothing should be telling you that you need to reinstall
SQL Server. Can you take a screen shot and post it online somewhere?


On 6/22/09 11:16 AM, in article
19D566E5-791A-459C-80D5-94CEFD3555F7...soft (DOT) com, "Dan Zaccarine"
<DanZaccarine (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote:

I have the same issue. Same error. I am installing SQL Server 2008
Developer, using my MSDN Key. Installs fine, but then when I try start
SSMS, I get the error posted by the OP. I am running Windows 7 (RC). I
have uninstalled and reinstalled... same error.

I am having the same problem - and I definitely am not running an evaluation
version.

"Aaron Bertrand [SQL Server MVP]" wrote:

The other questions I asked still apply, since we have no idea what "license
validation file" people are talking about.




On 9/29/09 5:09 PM, in article
8861BC9A-0BF7-488D-8C88-9C97A598BD40...soft (DOT) com, "Jason"
<Jason (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote: