Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe). Exit code (Decimal): -2068052377Error description: Invalid command line argument Consult the Windows Installer SDK for detailed command line help.

Question

Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe). Exit code (Decimal): -2068052377Error description: Invalid command line argument Consult the Windows Installer SDK for detailed command line help.

edgard habanbou 5

I'm trying to install SQL server and i can't find any solution to my problem:

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-07T13:18:22.82+00:00

In the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server*nnn*\Setup Bootstrap\Log, you find one folder per installation attempt. These folders contains quite a few files, of which some are very verbose. The two of most interest are summary.txt and detail.txt. Feel free to attach them here.

In the above, nnn depends on the version of SQL Server you are trying to install. For SQL 2022, nnn=160.
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-07T14:07:36.81+00:00

Here's all the files

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hMgRZ4ccq_ucRyp9fk5F3pRJfyM5LkYV/view?usp=sharing
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-07T15:20:49.2633333+00:00

In the last log file I find

Sco: File 'C:\SQL2022\Express_ENU\x64\setup\x64\sql_engine_core_inst.msi' does not exist

But in earlier logs it just says

(01) 2023-07-07 15:23:59 Slp: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): The system cannot find the path specified

Without no details on which path that might be. But just before that, it talks about installing a service RsFx0700 that I have no idea what it is.

How did you construct archive? In each folder there are only files, a detail file and a summary file. But usually there are a lot more. I know, I only asked for deatils and summary, but maybe some of the other could give more hints.

Anyway, I would recommend that you select the option Download Media and try to install from the ISO. I guess this fail too, but maybe the error message gives us more hints.

Also, I note that you have Windows 11 Pro. This makes me think that this is a corporate laptop, which means that your IT department may have policies and anti-malware software that is causing trouble.

edgard habanbou 5

I Got this error after installing from media:

=== Verbose logging started: 7/9/2023  22:06:27  Build type: SHIP UNICODE 5.00.10011.00  Calling process: C:\Users\Edgard\Downloads\SQLEXPR_x64_ENU\x64\ScenarioEngine.exe ===
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:212]: Resetting cached policy values
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:212]: Machine policy value 'Debug' is 0
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:212]: ******* RunEngine:
           ******* Product: C:\Users\Edgard\Downloads\SQLEXPR_x64_ENU\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst.msi
           ******* Action: 
           ******* CommandLine: **********
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:212]: Client-side and UI is none or basic: Running entire install on the server.
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:212]: Grabbed execution mutex.
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:228]: Cloaking enabled.
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:228]: Attempting to enable all disabled privileges before calling Install on Server
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:27:228]: Incrementing counter to disable shutdown. Counter after increment: 0
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:27:228]: Running installation inside multi-package transaction C:\Users\Edgard\Downloads\SQLEXPR_x64_ENU\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst.msi
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:27:228]: Grabbed execution mutex.
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:27:228]: Resetting cached policy values
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:27:228]: Machine policy value 'Debug' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:27:228]: ******* RunEngine:
           ******* Product: C:\Users\Edgard\Downloads\SQLEXPR_x64_ENU\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst.msi
           ******* Action: 
           ******* CommandLine: **********
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:28:447]: Machine policy value 'TransformsSecure' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:28:447]: User policy value 'TransformsAtSource' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:28:447]: Machine policy value 'DisableUserInstalls' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:28:447]: Specified instance {6621C765-569C-4D46-A8E9-C69A47971357} via transform :InstID01.mst;:InstName01.mst is already installed. MSINEWINSTANCE requires a new instance that is not installed.
MSI (s) (F0:68) [22:06:28:447]: MainEngineThread is returning 1639
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: User policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: Machine policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: Incrementing counter to disable shutdown. Counter after increment: 0
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: Note: 1: 1402 2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Rollback\Scripts 3: 2 
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: Note: 1: 1402 2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Rollback\Scripts 3: 2 
MSI (s) (F0:C4) [22:06:28:447]: Decrementing counter to disable shutdown. If counter >= 0, shutdown will be denied.  Counter after decrement: -1
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:28:462]: Decrementing counter to disable shutdown. If counter >= 0, shutdown will be denied.  Counter after decrement: -1
MSI (c) (88:3C) [22:06:28:462]: MainEngineThread is returning 1639
=== Verbose logging stopped: 7/9/2023  22:06:28 ===

edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T19:24:54.9266667+00:00

okay after removing everything related to sql in the registry another error popped up: the system cannot find the path specified
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-09T20:49:32.7666667+00:00

another error popped up: the system cannot find the path specified

Which I observed was in your first attempt as well.

Looking closer, I think the file it did not find in this attempt was C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Shared\RsFxInstall\RsFx0700.inf. Can you check if you have this file? Do you have this folder at all?
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T21:43:05.31+00:00

No I don't
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-09T21:50:45.58+00:00

I think we now have identified the direct cause to why the installation fails. Remains to understand why you don't have that file. Was it ever written to the folder, or did something remove it?

Process Monitor from sysinternals.com might tell you something. I would try to filter by RsFx to cast a wide net, at least initially. (RsFx is something related to Filestream, I've been able to figure out.)
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T22:37:44.95+00:00

thank you so much for your help it worked

2 answers

Your answer

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-07T13:18:22.82+00:00

In the folder C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server*nnn*\Setup Bootstrap\Log, you find one folder per installation attempt. These folders contains quite a few files, of which some are very verbose. The two of most interest are summary.txt and detail.txt. Feel free to attach them here.

In the above, nnn depends on the version of SQL Server you are trying to install. For SQL 2022, nnn=160.
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-07T14:07:36.81+00:00

Here's all the files

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hMgRZ4ccq_ucRyp9fk5F3pRJfyM5LkYV/view?usp=sharing
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-07T15:20:49.2633333+00:00

In the last log file I find

Sco: File 'C:\SQL2022\Express_ENU\x64\setup\x64\sql_engine_core_inst.msi' does not exist

But in earlier logs it just says

(01) 2023-07-07 15:23:59 Slp: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): The system cannot find the path specified

Without no details on which path that might be. But just before that, it talks about installing a service RsFx0700 that I have no idea what it is.

How did you construct archive? In each folder there are only files, a detail file and a summary file. But usually there are a lot more. I know, I only asked for deatils and summary, but maybe some of the other could give more hints.

Anyway, I would recommend that you select the option Download Media and try to install from the ISO. I guess this fail too, but maybe the error message gives us more hints.

Also, I note that you have Windows 11 Pro. This makes me think that this is a corporate laptop, which means that your IT department may have policies and anti-malware software that is causing trouble.
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T19:24:54.9266667+00:00

okay after removing everything related to sql in the registry another error popped up: the system cannot find the path specified
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-09T20:49:32.7666667+00:00

another error popped up: the system cannot find the path specified

Which I observed was in your first attempt as well.

Looking closer, I think the file it did not find in this attempt was C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Shared\RsFxInstall\RsFx0700.inf. Can you check if you have this file? Do you have this folder at all?
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T21:43:05.31+00:00

No I don't
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-09T21:50:45.58+00:00

I think we now have identified the direct cause to why the installation fails. Remains to understand why you don't have that file. Was it ever written to the folder, or did something remove it?

Process Monitor from sysinternals.com might tell you something. I would try to filter by RsFx to cast a wide net, at least initially. (RsFx is something related to Filestream, I've been able to figure out.)
edgard habanbou 5 Reputation points

2023-07-09T22:37:44.95+00:00

thank you so much for your help it worked

Answer 1

RahulRandive 10,486 Volunteer Moderator

Hi @edgard habanbou

Please review the following thread for a similar issue and potential solutions regarding the error you encountered during the installation process.

Exit code (Decimal): -2068052377Error description: Invalid command line argument. Consult Windows Installer SDK. Please help me... - Microsoft Q&A

Thank you!

Answer 2

edgard habanbou 5

Okay I don't know what happened but it was installed Successfully.

Things I did different than the other times:

Changed instance name and ID (I think that was the problem)
Cleared my recycle bin since I deleted the SQL folders in the past attempts.

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-10T07:58:57.8766667+00:00

Okay I don't know what happened but it was installed Successfully.

Whatever, it was installed that was the main thing! I'm happy to hear that you were able to resolve it.
Mohammed Umar 1 Reputation point

2023-12-22T06:18:26.9533333+00:00

How did you change the instance Name??
John Earl 0 Reputation points

2024-08-15T14:02:27.2466667+00:00

How did you change the instance name and ID?
John Earl 0 Reputation points

2024-08-15T14:03:16.6233333+00:00

How did you change the id and instance name?

Share via

Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe). Exit code (Decimal): -2068052377Error description: Invalid command line argument Consult the Windows Installer SDK for detailed command line help.

2 answers

Your answer