Warning 26003 support files can not uninstalled

Question

While uninstalling MS SQL showing warning 26003 , Support files can not uninstalled.

Answer 1

Hi @Yogesh Kashid

Referring from this similar thread: Uninstall "SQL 2008 R2 Express" (Common Files & Database Engine Shared)??

Try the following steps:

1. Make sure you have administrative rights on the computer and backup all the user databases.
2. Uninstall the existing SQL Server and all the components from the control panel. Remember to backup the user databases before uninstalling SQL Server.
3. Backup the registry.
4. Delete the following keys in regedit: --HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server --HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer
5. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and delete all the sub-keys referencing SQL Server.
6. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services and delete all the keys referencing SQL Server.
7. Rename all the SQL Server folders in the computer.
8. Try the steps in the “If you experience problems” section and “Step 3: Uninstall the support components” section from: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909967
9. Reboot the machine
10. Install SQL Server again. Also, here is a blog that might help: Fun with software: Uninstalling SQL Server Evaluation Edition. Best regards, Cosmog Hong If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Note: Please follow the steps in our Documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.