I'm creating an application installer that includes SQL Express, and
I've experienced a problem with the SQL Server Express installer. If
the user cancels the SQL Express installation after the SQL Native
Client is installed, subsequent installation attempts will fail. I've
found that I can resolve the problem by uninstalling the SQL Native
Client before attempting the next installation.

I could potentially add code to automatically uninstall SQL Native
Client (if it exists) before attempting to install SQL Express,
although I'm not sure if that's a good idea. Has anyone else
experienced this? Do you have any other work-arounds?

Snip from the SQL installation log file:

Machine : STEVE2
Product : SQL Native Client
Error : An installation package for the product Microsoft SQL
Server Native Client cannot be found. Try the installation again using
a valid copy of the installation package 'sqlncli.msi'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine : STEVE2
Product : Microsoft SQL Server Native Client
Product Version : 9.00.1399.06
Install : Failed
Log File : C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup
Bootstrap\LOG\Files\SQLSetup0006_STEVE2_SQLNCLI_1. log
Last Action : InstallFinalize
Error String : An installation package for the product Microsoft SQL
Server Native Client cannot be found. Try the installation again using
a valid copy of the installation package 'sqlncli.msi'.
Error Number : 1706

Thanks.

You said:
"If the user cancels the SQL Express installation after the SQL Native
Client is installed, subsequent installation attempts will fail."

Does this mean that you are having your installer launch the SQL Express MSI
in GUI mode? If so, try adding the necessary parameters to your command to
launch the SQL Express MSI in silent mode, which will not allow the user to
cancel the SQL Express install. The available install options are located in
the Template.ini file.



"BamaZealot" wrote: