SQL Server 2008 R2 setup fails on Windows 7 with the error: Version's parameters must be greater than or equal to zero

Symptom:

While installing SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM in a Windows 7 box, noticed an error message:

SQL Server Setup has encountered the following error:

Version's parameters must be greater than or equal to zero.

This error occurs after Setup Support Files are installed and then setup is trying to gather existing SQL components installation information.

From the error message, it looks more like setup is trying to read Version information about a SQL component and it either finds it as NULL or NAN (Not a number).

Cause:

SQL 2000 client-network utility was installed in the box but the registry entries that specify the version and the language for SQL Server 2000 Tools are missing or incorrect.

Work around:

Method 1 (Recommended approach):

            Re-install SQL Server 2000 client components.

Method 2:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

2. Locate and then click the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\

3. Create new key ClientSetup under above location

4. Create new key CurrentVersion under 80\Tools\ClientSetup\

5. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.

6. Type CurrentVersion, and then press ENTER.

7. Double-click CurrentVersion, type 8.00.0194 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

8. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

9. Type Language, and then press ENTER.

10. Double-click Language, type 409 in the Value data box (Make sure that hexadecimal radio button is highlighted), and then click OK.

Note: 409 here corresponds to English – United States which is the locale of SQL Server installation. Locale IDs assigned by MS can be looked up here https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964664.aspx. The language version of your SQL Server installation can be found by checking the properties of setupsql.exe in your SQL Server installation media

11. Exit Registry Editor.

Note:

There is also a similar issue reported at https://support.microsoft.com/kb/973301 and it is about SQL Server 2008 with different error message.

Regards,
Sakthivel Chidambaram
SE, SQL support

Rakesh Singh & Shamik Ghosh

TL, SQL support