"Login failed for user ‘sa’" error when upgrading to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services

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Update -- Update -- Update (6/1/2006)

If you downloaded Express Advance prior to 6/1/2006, please download a fresh copy of the installer from the SQL Express download page at https://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/download before following these steps. The updated installer will not cause this problem anymore.

Important Note: If you have already succesfully installed SQL Express Advanced, you do not need to reinstall it. If you plan on installing additional copies of Express Advance, please download a new version of the installer from the download page.

Original Post

I’m tracking an error that some folks are getting when trying to upgrade from SQL Server 2005 Express Edition to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services. During the upgrade, you might be getting this error:

SQL Server Setup could not connect to the database service for server configuration. The error was: {Microsoft}{SQL Native Client}{SQL Server}Login failed for user 'sa'. Refer to server error logs and setup logs for more information. For details on how to view setup logs, see "How to View Setup Log Files" in SQL Server Books Online.

The full error as detailed in the Summary.txt file generated by the setup engine is as follows:

Machine : <your computer name>

Product : Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Product Version : 9.1.2047.00

Install : Failed

Log File : c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\LOG\Files\SQLSetup0003_MIKEWA-LT_SQL.log

Last Action : InstallFinalize

Error String : SQL Server Setup could not connect to the database service for server configuration. The error was: {Microsoft}{SQL Native Client}{SQL Server}Login failed for user 'sa'. Refer to server error logs and setup logs for more information. For details on how to view setup logs, see "How to View Setup Log Files" in SQL Server Books Online.

Error Number : 29515

 

This will typically leave you unable to start your Instance of SQL Express. In order to repair SQL Express and successfully install the upgrade to Express Advanced, use the following steps:

 

1. Open the SQL Server Configuration Manager. (Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2005 | Configuration Tools)

2. Select the SQL Server 2005 Service node and then select the SQL Express instance that is no longer working.

3. Open the Property dialog for the instance. (Right-click menu or Action | Properties)

4. Change the 'Log on as:' selector to Local System and click Apply.

5. Once the server has restarted, change the 'Log on as:' selector back to Network Service and click Apply.

6. Important: Follow the steps in How to upgrade from SQL Express to SQL Express Advanced elsewhere in this blog in order to upgrade SQL Express.

 

Got questions? Post them in the SQL Express Forum on MSDN.

 

- Mike