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Error message when you try to install SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2: "The SQL Server service failed to start"

Article ID: 2387754

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, you receive the following error message:

SQL Server installation failed. To continue, investigate the reason for the failure, correct the problem, uninstall SQL Server, and then rerun SQL Server Setup.

When you examine the SQL Server error log, you receive the following error message:

Error: 15209, Severity: 16, State: 1.
An error occurred during encryption.

For more information about how to view the SQL Server error log, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187885.aspx

(http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187885.aspx)

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CAUSE

The problem occurs because of one of the following causes:

The Network Service account does not have permissions on the following folder:
For Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 operating systems the path is
%Systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Protect

For all other operating systems, the path is
C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft\Protect
NAME COLLISION error when installing SQL Server on FAT partitions

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To work around this problem on systems affected by insufficient permissions for Network service account, grant the account Full Control permission on the Protect folder. To do this, follow these steps:

Open My Computer.
Type C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Application Data\Microsoft in the address bar, and then press ENTER.
Right-click the Protect folder, and then click Properties.
In the folder Properties dialog box, click the Security tab.
Under Group or user names, determine whether NETWORK SERVICE is listed. If NETWORK SERVICE is not listed, follow these steps to add this account:
1. Click Add to show the Select Users or Groups dialog box.
2. Click Locations, select your computer name in the Locations dialog box, and then click OK to return to the Select Users or Groups dialog box.
3. Type Network Service in the Enter the object names to select box, and then click Check Names.
4. Click OK to close the Select Users or Groups dialog box.
Click NETWORK SERVICE under Group or user names, and then click to select the Allow check box for Full Control under Permissions for NETWORK SERVICE.
Click OK to close the folder Properties dialog box.
Click Retry in the error message dialog box to continue to install SQL Server Express Edition or SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services.

To workaround this problem on FAT partitions where the error could happen due to NAME COLLISION error, refer to the following blog post on MSDN:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/blakhani/archive/2009/11/24/sql-server-2005-express-setup-failure-with-error-an-error-occurred-during-encryption.aspx

(http://blogs.msdn.com/b/blakhani/archive/2009/11/24/sql-server-2005-express-setup-failure-with-error-an-error-occurred-during-encryption.aspx)

Note: Though the blog post refers to SQL Server 2005, the same resolution applies to SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 environments.

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MORE INFORMATION

The same error could also occur in SQL Server 2005 environments. For further information refer to the following KB article:

920114
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;920114)
Error message when you try to install SQL Server Express or SQL Server Express Edition or SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services: "The SQL Server service failed to start"

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Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use

(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500)

for other considerations.

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