SQL Server Fails to Install on Windows 7

Error: The SQL Server service failed to start. For more information, see the SQL Server Books Online topics, "How to: View SQL Server 2005 Setup Log Files" and "Starting SQL Server Manually."

This error normally occurs on a Windows 7 computer if: You try to install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on a computer that has a multicore processor.

• The ratio between logical processors and physical sockets is not a power of 2. For example, the computer has a single socket together with a triple-core processor.
• The number of physical cores is not a power of 2.
• The total number of CPUs is an odd number. For example, there are seven or nine CPUs.

In these scenarios, you cannot install SQL Server 2005.

Please follow steps below exactly as it appears for a solution:

 

Before you install SQL Server 2005, temporarily change the number of logical processors to one. This makes the computer appear to be a single-processor system, and SQL Server 2005 is installed successfully. To do this, follow these steps:

Windows Server 2003

• To change the number of logical processors in Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the BOOT.INI tab.
3. On the BOOT.INI tab, click Advanced Options.
4. In the BOOT.INI Advanced Options dialog box, click to select the /NUMPROC= check box.
5. In the list that is next to the /NUMPROC= check box, click 1, and then click OK.
6. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click OK.
7. Restart the server.

•    Install SQL Server 2005.
•    Install the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005.

 

 

For more information about how to obtain the latest SQL Server 2005 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

913089  How to obtain the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005

  

• Restart the server by using all the processors. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab.
3. On the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, and then clickOK.
4. Restart the server.

Windows Server 2008

• To change the number of logical processors in Windows Server 2008, follow these steps:

•    Install SQL Server 2005.
•    Install the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: You must install SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or a later service pack on Windows Server 2008.

For more information about how to obtain the latest SQL Server 2005 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

913089  How to obtain the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005

 

•    Restart the server by using all the processors. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the General tab.
3. On the General tab, click Normal startup, and then click OK.
4. Restart the server.

 

You may also refer to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954835