SQL Express 2019 - the version of the installer is no longer supported

BrentC 6 Reputation points
2022-04-19T05:37:18.943+00:00

I am getting this error "oops the version of the installer is no longer supported, please download again form the download site" when trying to install SQL express 2019 on a clean install of Windows Server 2019. I have found the two recommended solutions, but neither help me. Interestingly I get the same error when trying to install on my workstation, which is a different installer file, operating system and internet connection. Is there something wrong with the installer. I have tried to redownload it 10 times from the official Microsoft website and nothing helps. The logs below tell me "This version of the installer is no longer supported."

I already tried this fix

set strong cryptography on 64 bit .Net Framework (version 4 and above)

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft.NetFramework\v4.0.30319' -Name 'SchUseStrongCrypto' -Value '1' -Type Dword

set strong cryptography on 32 bit .Net Framework (version 4 and above)

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NetFramework\v4.0.30319' -Name 'SchUseStrongCrypto' -Value '1' -Type Dword

and the local security policy fix and neither has helped me.

Under Policy in the right pane, double-click System cryptography: Use FIPS compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing, and then click Enabled.

This is the log file.

(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 SSEI v15.2002.4709.1
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 CorrelationId: ce38ce66-3e05-427b-885b-ad9b60e9cd61
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 CurrentCulture.Name='en-AU'.LCID='3081'.Parent.Name='en'
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 CurrentUICulture.Name='en-US'.LCID='1033'.Parent.Name='en'
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 CurrentCulture has 'en' parent'.
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 resolvedCulture: en-US
(01) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 osSupported: True, osVersion: 10.0.17763.0, osPlatform: amd64
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 .NET Framework Version: 4.5
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIActivityStart:Message: Starting Activity StartupBootstrapActivity
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:54 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIProgressReport:ProgressPercent: 1
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 Downloading manifest from https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/f/8/7f8a9c43-8c8a-4f7c-9f92-83c18d96b681/Manifest_Bootstrap_All.xml
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 Current version: '15.2002.4709.1', Minimum version: '15.2204.5490.2'
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIProgressReport:ProgressPercent: 100
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIActivityMessage:Message: This version of the installer is no longer supported. Please download again from the download site.
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIProgressReport:ProgressPercent: 100
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 StartupBootstrapActivity:SSEIActivityEnd:Message: Finishing Activity StartupBootstrapActivity
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 Activity Summaries for Scenario [InitializeBootstrapManifest]
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 ActivityName Outcome WasCancelled DurationSeconds
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 StartupBootstrapActivity 0 0 0.7004073
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 Failed to initialize application: Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.FatalActivityException: This version of the installer is no longer supported. Please download again from the download site.
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.StartupBootstrapActivity.RunActivity()
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.SetupEngine.ExecuteActivity(ActivityBase activity)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.SetupEngine.ExecuteSetup()
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.ManifestCache.InitializeBootstrapManifest(String edition)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.ManifestCache.Initialize(String edition, Boolean skipBootstrapInitialization)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.UI.SSEIBusinessLogic.Initialize(String edition)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.UI.ViewModels.StartPageViewModel.InitializePage()
(04) 2022-04-19 15:25:55 AppInitializationFatalException: ExceptionMessage: This version of the installer is no longer supported. Please download again from the download site. TypeName: FatalActivityException StackTrace: at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.StartupBootstrapActivity.RunActivity()
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.SetupEngine.ExecuteActivity(ActivityBase activity)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.SetupEngine.ExecuteSetup()
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.ManifestCache.InitializeBootstrapManifest(String edition)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.Engine.ManifestCache.Initialize(String edition, Boolean skipBootstrapInitialization)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.UI.SSEIBusinessLogic.Initialize(String edition)
at Microsoft.Sql.Installer.UI.ViewModels.StartPageViewModel.InitializePage()

SQL Server
SQL Server
A family of Microsoft relational database management and analysis systems for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.
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5 answers

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  1. BrentC 6 Reputation points
    2022-04-20T00:53:55.89+00:00
    1 person found this answer helpful.

  2. YufeiShao-msft 7,081 Reputation points
    2022-04-19T07:28:34.573+00:00

    Hi @BrentC

    Try to add a Dword Value to the following two locations in the registry:

    HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\.NetFramework\v4.0.30319  
      
    HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NetFramework\v4.0.30319  
      
    Dword key: SchUseStrongCrypto  
    

    https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/sql-server/a-required-file-could-not-be-downloaded-sql-server-2019-express/m-p/3286264

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  3. BrentC 6 Reputation points
    2022-04-19T23:43:32.217+00:00

    Does anyone else have any suggestions? It's ridiculous that I can't even install SQL Express on a clean install.

    Screenshots below show changes I have made. All Windows updates installed, running the setup as administrator, downloaded another copy of the installer directly on the machine when it prompts, copied over installer from another machine and nothing works.

    194471-regkey2.jpg

    194289-regkey1.jpg194290-lsp1.jpg

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  4. Dan Guzman 9,226 Reputation points
    2022-04-20T00:00:57.083+00:00

    Does anyone else have any suggestions? It's ridiculous that I can't even install SQL Express on a clean install.

    You could download the SQL Server Developer Edition ISO image directly from this link. Select "Express Edition" as the free edition on the product key page. However, I suggest Developer Edition if your use is only development and testing (not production).

    194473-screenshot-2022-04-19-185806.png


  5. BrentC 6 Reputation points
    2022-04-22T01:39:49.503+00:00

    Yes. It worked and I was able to install ok.

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