Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed

Question

Overall summary:

Final result: Failed: see details below

Exit code (Decimal): -2061893606

Start time: 2025-12-07 16:55:50

End time: 2025-12-07 16:59:41

Requested action: Install

Setup completed with required actions for features.

Troubleshooting information for those features:

Next step for SQLEngine: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.

Next step for Replication: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.

Machine Properties:

Machine name: TF-251203220258

Machine processor count: 12

OS version: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise (10.0.26100)

OS service pack:

OS region: United States

OS language: English (United States)

OS architecture: x64

Process architecture: 64 Bit

OS clustered: No

Product features discovered:

Product Instance Instance ID Feature Language Edition Version Clustered Configured

SQL Server 2022 SQLEXPRESS MSSQL16.SQLEXPRESS Database Engine Services 1033 Express Edition 16.0.1160.1 No Yes

SQL Server 2022 SQLEXPRESS MSSQL16.SQLEXPRESS SQL Server Replication 1033 Express Edition 16.0.1160.1 No Yes

Package properties:

Description: Microsoft SQL Server 2022

ProductName: SQL Server 2022

Type: RTM

Version: 16

SPLevel: 0

Installation location: C:\692fe92d3910b952bd80\x64\setup\

Installation edition: Express

Product Update Status:

User selected not to include product updates.

Notice: Please read Microsoft SQL Server Software License Terms at aka.ms/useterms.

User Input Settings:

ACTION: Install

ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN: true

AGTSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE

AGTSVCPASSWORD: *****

AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Disabled

ASBACKUPDIR: Backup

ASCOLLATION: Latin1_General_CI_AS

ASCONFIGDIR: Config

ASDATADIR: Data

ASLOGDIR: Log

ASPROVIDERMSOLAP: 1

ASSERVERMODE: TABULAR

ASSVCACCOUNT: <empty>

ASSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ASSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

ASSYSADMINACCOUNTS: <empty>

ASTELSVCACCT: <empty>

ASTELSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ASTELSVCSTARTUPTYPE: 0

ASTEMPDIR: Temp

AZUREARCPROXYSERVER:

AZUREBILLEDEDITION:

AZUREREGION:

AZURERESOURCEGROUP:

AZURESERVICEPRINCIPAL:

AZURESERVICEPRINCIPALSECRET: *****

AZURESUBSCRIPTIONID:

AZURETENANTID:

BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

CONFIGURATIONFILE:

ENABLERANU: true

ENU: true

EXTSVCACCOUNT: <empty>

EXTSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

FEATURES: SQLENGINE, REPLICATION

FILESTREAMLEVEL: 0

FILESTREAMSHARENAME: <empty>

FTSVCACCOUNT: <empty>

FTSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

HELP: false

IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS: true

IACKNOWLEDGEENTCALLIMITS: false

INDICATEPROGRESS: false

INSTALLSHAREDDIR: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\

INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\

INSTALLSQLDATADIR: <empty>

INSTANCEDIR: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\

INSTANCEID: MSSQLSERVER

INSTANCENAME: MSSQLSERVER

ISMASTERSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\Network Service

ISMASTERSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ISMASTERSVCPORT: 8391

ISMASTERSVCSSLCERTCN: <empty>

ISMASTERSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

ISMASTERSVCTHUMBPRINT: <empty>

ISSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\Network Service

ISSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ISSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

ISTELSVCACCT: <empty>

ISTELSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ISTELSVCSTARTUPTYPE: 0

ISWORKERSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\Network Service

ISWORKERSVCCERT: <empty>

ISWORKERSVCMASTER: <empty>

ISWORKERSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

ISWORKERSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

NPENABLED: 0

PBDMSSVCACCOUNT: <empty>

PBDMSSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

PBDMSSVCSTARTUPTYPE: 0

PBENGSVCACCOUNT: <empty>

PBENGSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

PBENGSVCSTARTUPTYPE: 0

PBPORTRANGE: <empty>

PID: *****

PRODUCTCOVEREDBYSA: false

QUIET: false

QUIETSIMPLE: false

ROLE: AllFeatures_WithDefaults

SAPWD: <empty>

SECURITYMODE: <empty>

SQLBACKUPDIR: <empty>

SQLCOLLATION: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS

SQLMAXDOP: 0

SQLMAXMEMORY: 2147483647

SQLMINMEMORY: 0

SQLSVCACCOUNT: NT Service\MSSQLSERVER

SQLSVCINSTANTFILEINIT: false

SQLSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS: APAC\prahlad.zapadiya

SQLTELSVCACCT: NT Service\SQLTELEMETRY

SQLTELSVCPASSWORD: <empty>

SQLTELSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic

SQLTEMPDBDIR: <empty>

SQLTEMPDBFILECOUNT: 1

SQLTEMPDBFILEGROWTH: 64

SQLTEMPDBFILESIZE: 8

SQLTEMPDBLOGDIR: <empty>

SQLTEMPDBLOGFILEGROWTH: 64

SQLTEMPDBLOGFILESIZE: 8

SQLUSERDBDIR: <empty>

SQLUSERDBLOGDIR: <empty>

SUPPRESSPAIDEDITIONNOTICE: false

SUPPRESSPRIVACYSTATEMENTNOTICE: false

TCPENABLED: 0

UIMODE: AutoAdvance

UpdateEnabled: false

UpdateSource: MU

USEMICROSOFTUPDATE: false

USESQLRECOMMENDEDMEMORYLIMITS: false

Configuration file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20251207_165550\ConfigurationFile.ini

Detailed results:

Feature: Database Engine Services

Status: Failed

Reason for failure: An error occurred during the setup process of the feature.

Next Step: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.

Component name: SQL Server Database Engine Services Instance Features

Component error code: 0x851A001A

Error description: Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes.

Error help link: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkId=20476&ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=setup.rll&EvtID=50000&ProdVer=16.0.1160.1&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4026&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4026

Feature: SQL Server Replication

Status: Failed

Reason for failure: An error occurred for a dependency of the feature causing the setup process for the feature to fail.

Next Step: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.

Component name: SQL Server Database Engine Services Instance Features

Component error code: 0x851A001A

Error description: Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes.

Error help link: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkId=20476&ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=setup.rll&EvtID=50000&ProdVer=16.0.1160.1&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4026&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%400x4BDAF9BA%401306%4026

Rules with failures or warnings:

Global rules:

Warning IsFirewallEnabled The Windows Firewall is enabled. Make sure the appropriate ports are open to enable remote access. See the rules documentation at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2162127 for information about ports to open for each feature.

Rules report file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20251207_165550\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.htm

Answer 1

The error message "Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed" indicates that there was a failure during the setup process of SQL Server Database Engine Services. This can occur due to various reasons, including issues with the installation environment or conflicts with existing configurations.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check SQL Server Error Log: Review the SQL Server error log for any specific errors that may provide more context on why the setup failed. This log can often give insights into what went wrong during the installation process.
2. Uninstall and Reinstall: As suggested in the error message, you may need to uninstall the Database Engine Services feature and then attempt to run the setup process again. Ensure that all prerequisites are met before reinstalling.
3. TLS Settings: If you are using SQL Server 2012 or 2014, ensure that TLS 1.0 is enabled if you are not using a version that supports TLS 1.2. Disabling TLS 1.0 can lead to installation issues.
4. Firewall Settings: Ensure that the Windows Firewall is configured to allow SQL Server traffic. The warning about the firewall being enabled suggests that you may need to open specific ports for SQL Server.
5. Check for Missing Installer Files: Sometimes, missing files in the Windows Installer cache can cause installation failures. You can repair the SQL Server installation or use tools to restore missing files.
6. Review Configuration Settings: Double-check the configuration settings in the setup log to ensure they are correct and compatible with your system environment.

If the problem persists after following these steps, consider consulting the Microsoft documentation or support for further assistance.

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References:

• Troubleshoot SQL Server errors related to system disk sector size greater than 4 KB
• SQL Server upgrade fails and returns error 17182
• Troubleshoot common SQL Server Cumulative Update installation issues

Answer 2

The message Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed is a generic error that means that SQL Server did not start when Setup wanted to run configuration steps. To understand why it did not start, you need to look in the SQL Server errorlog, which you find in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG.

If you see a message about 256 misaligned reads, you are running into a known issue where Windows 11 for some disk drives reports a sector size that SQL Server does not cope with. Microsoft has published an article with workarounds for the problem.

If you don't see the message about misaligned reads, feel free to upload the errorlog here, so we can look at it. You will need to rename to ERRORLOG.txt for the forum software to accept it.