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I'm trying to install SQL Server 2017 Developer edition with "Basic" installation type but it gives below error message:

Oops...

Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe).

enter image description here

Build version it is trying to install is 14.1710.3866.2

I've already tried running the installer several time but I got the very same error screen every time. Also tried launching the installer with administrative privileges but no luck.

Does anyone has any idea about this mysterious error message and how to overcome it? It doesn't point me to any log file which I can look into to get some idea about why it is happening on my machine. I downloaded the setup from official MS website here.

Update: With help from @TheGameiswar I was able to locate the log files for the installation attempts. Only relevant things which I could find from a file named Detail_Rules.txt was as below:

(01) 2017-11-17 14:37:43 Slp: Neither the localized version nor the ENU help .chm file exist in the media. This could mean that there is no appropriate help file to display on the UI. Error message: The help .chm file 'C:\SQLServer2017Media\RulesEng\1033_ENU_LP\x64\1033\help\s11ch_setup.chm' is missing from the media..

I'm not sure if it is the root cause of the error.

Community
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RBT
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  • Check this: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/359e9f41-f2ff-4020-b025-917bca974ab6/error-installing-sql-server-2016-express?forum=sqlsetupandupgrade and post your logs – Tanner Nov 17 '17 at 09:00
  • Don't you have installation log file – TheGameiswar Nov 17 '17 at 09:03
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    You will definitely have setup logs ,try sharing them..`%programfiles%\Microsoft sql server\130\setup bootstrap\log` – TheGameiswar Nov 17 '17 at 09:08
  • I think for SQL2017 you may have to replace 130 with 140 – TheGameiswar Nov 17 '17 at 09:09
  • @TheGameiswar the setup that you get from MS site is a .exe file. Kind of a bootstrapper which internally downloads the actual files over internet. I tried the command `SQLServer2017-SSEI-Dev.exe /L*v "d:\sqlInstallLog.txt"` option that I use with MSI files but it didn't create any log file in `D:` drive – RBT Nov 17 '17 at 09:09
  • Can you share an entire of repro of how you are installing – TheGameiswar Nov 17 '17 at 09:11
  • @TheGameiswar you were right. I can see the log directory `C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\140\Setup Bootstrap\Log`. For each new run it is creating new folder inside `Log` folder in the name of timestamp e.g. `20171117_143724`. – RBT Nov 17 '17 at 09:14
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    Can you download the media offline and try installing – TheGameiswar Nov 17 '17 at 09:20
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    Seems like a question for DBA or ServerFault, not SO. – underscore_d Nov 17 '17 at 09:26

2 Answers2

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Neither the localized version nor the ENU help .chm file exist in the media. This could mean that there is no appropriate help file to display on the UI. Error message: The help .chm file 'C:\SQLServer2017Media\RulesEng\1033_ENU_LP\x64\1033\help\s11ch_setup.chm' is missing from the media

As per my understanding,this issue arises when setup files are not downloaded completely..

You may have to download entire setup first and install it later as shown in screenshot below

enter image description here

TheGameiswar
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    Thanks. This worked! **An additional note**: If you already had failed attempts like me then make sure to delete the `%programfiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\140` folder before starting the fresh installation with downloaded media. If the remains of older installation attempt aren't removed then the downloaded installer starts giving error that an older setup is already in progress. I was able to run the installer from downloaded media only after I deleted the folder mentioned above. – RBT Nov 17 '17 at 09:55
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If anyone is still having issues with this. Instead of choosing the basic installation, I choose the custom options. It took a few more minute than it would have taken with the basic. Maybe this will work.

Jean-Joseph
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