Environment:
Win Svr 2008 SP2 x86
SQL Server Database Services 2008 Enterprise x86

Installation fails near the end with:
Database Engine Services failed
11:08:49 SQLEngine: : Checking Engine checkpoint 'GetSqlServerProcessHandle'
2009-12-17 11:08:49 SQLEngine: --SqlServerServiceSCM: Waiting for nt event
'Global\sqlserverRecComplete' to be created
2009-12-17 11:08:51 SQLEngine: --SqlServerServiceSCM: Waiting for nt event
'Global\sqlserverRecComplete' or sql process handle to be signaled
2009-12-17 11:08:51 SQLEngine: : Checking Engine checkpoint
'WaitSqlServerStartEvents'
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature
SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: External component has thrown an exception.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature
SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: System.Runtime.InteropServices.SEHException:
External component has thrown an exception.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.Win32.SafeNativeMethods.CloseHandle(IntP tr handle)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles.SafeProcessHandle.Rele aseHandle()
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SafeHandle.Internal Dispose()
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SafeHandle.Dispose( Boolean disposing)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at System.Diagnostics.Process.Close()
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at System.Diagnostics.Process.Dispose(Boolean
disposing)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at System.ComponentModel.Component.Dispose()
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verServiceBase.WaitSqlServerStart(Process processSql)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verServiceSCM.StartSqlServer(String[] parameters)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verStartup.StartSQLServerForInstall(String
sqlCollation, String masterFullPath, Boolean isConfiguringTemplateDBs)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.ConfigSQLServerSystemDatabases(Ef fectiveProperties
properties, Boolean isConfiguringTemplateDBs, Boolean useInstallInputs)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.DoCommonDBStartConfig(ConfigActio nTiming timing)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.Install(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Pr ivateConfigurationBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenari o
scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData,
PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sq lFeatureConfigBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario
scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData,
PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sl pConfigAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sl pConfigAction.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream)
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: Exception:
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SEHException.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: Source: System.
2009-12-17 11:08:53 Slp: Message: External component has thrown an exception..

The Detail.txt for the failure is:

1.
2009-12-17 15:32:57 Slp: Sco: Attempting to open service handle for
service MSSQLSERVER
2.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Service MSSQLSERVER started
3.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to close service handle for
service MSSQLSERVER
4.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to close SC Manager
5.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to get service process id for
service MSSQLSERVER
6.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to open SC Manager
7.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to open service handle for
service MSSQLSERVER
8.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Invoking QueryServiceStatusEx Win32 API
9.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to close service handle for
service MSSQLSERVER
10.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Attempting to close SC Manager
11.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 Slp: Sco: Returning service process id 3652
12.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 SQLEngine: : Checking Engine checkpoint
'GetSqlServerProcessHandle'
13.
2009-12-17 15:33:04 SQLEngine: --SqlServerServiceSCM: Waiting for nt
event 'Global\sqlserverRecComplete' to be created
14.
2009-12-17 15:33:09 SQLEngine: --SqlServerServiceSCM: Waiting for nt
event 'Global\sqlserverRecComplete' or sql process handle to be signaled
15.
2009-12-17 15:33:09 SQLEngine: : Checking Engine checkpoint
'WaitSqlServerStartEvents'
16.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature
SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
17.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: External component has thrown an exception.
18.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature
SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
19.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: System.Runtime.InteropServices.SEHException:
External component has thrown an exception.
20.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.Win32.SafeNativeMethods.CloseHandle(IntP tr handle)
21.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles.SafeProcessHandle.Rele aseHandle()
22.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SafeHandle.Internal Dispose()
23.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SafeHandle.Dispose( Boolean disposing)
24.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at System.Diagnostics.Process.Close()
25.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
System.Diagnostics.Process.Dispose(Boolean disposing)
26.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at System.ComponentModel.Component.Dispose()
27.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verServiceBase.WaitSqlServerStart(Process processSql)
28.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verServiceSCM.StartSqlServer(String[] parameters)
29.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlSer verStartup.StartSQLServerForInstall(String
sqlCollation, String masterFullPath, Boolean isConfiguringTemplateDBs)
30.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.ConfigSQLServerSystemDatabases(Ef fectiveProperties
properties, Boolean isConfiguringTemplateDBs, Boolean useInstallInputs)
31.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.DoCommonDBStartConfig(ConfigActio nTiming timing)
32.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEng ineDBStartConfig.Install(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
33.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Pr ivateConfigurationBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenari o
scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData,
PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
34.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sq lFeatureConfigBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario
scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData,
PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent)
35.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sl pConfigAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId)
36.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.Sl pConfigAction.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream)
37.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: Exception:
System.Runtime.InteropServices.SEHException.
38.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: Source: System.
39.
2009-12-17 15:33:15 Slp: Message: External component has thrown an
exception..
40.
2009-12-17 15:33:18 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server to file c:\Program Files\Microsoft
SQL Server\100\Setup
Bootstrap\Log\20091217_145048\Registry_SOFTWARE_Mi crosoft_Microsoft SQL
Server.reg_
41.
2009-12-17 15:33:19 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstal l to file c:\Program
Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup
Bootstrap\Log\20091217_145048\Registry_SOFTWARE_Mi crosoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Uninstall.reg_
42.
2009-12-17 15:33:19 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer to file c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\100\Setup
Bootstrap\Log\20091217_145048\Registry_SOFTWARE_Mi crosoft_MSSQLServer.reg_
43.
2009-12-17 15:34:01 Slp: External component has thrown an exception.
44.
2009-12-17 15:34:04 Slp: Watson bucket for exception based failure has
been created
45.
2009-12-17 15:42:09 Slp: Completed Action:
SqlEngineDBStartConfigAction_install_configrc_Cpu3 2, returned False

I find no definitive references on how to make this work, other than a vague
reference in some other posts to "use another version of Windows Server" or
"Use Windows XP instead." Can anyone help me solve this problem?

Thanks,

Jeremiah

I just worked through this problem. The solution for me was to install
Windows Server 2008 SP2. Then .NET 3.5 installed fine.