Error installing SQL Server 2005 SP3 - Setup Support Files
I just came across an annoying problem when trying to upgrade MS SQL 2005 my development server to SP3. Whatever I did it would fail on the first step of the process - "Setup Support Files". Here's the lines from the log file the patch created:
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:328]: Note: 1: 2360
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:328]: Note: 1: 2360
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:328]: Note: 1: 2360
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:328]: Note: 1: 2360
MSI (s) (B0:E0) [15:22:38:343]: Assembly Error:Version %d.%d is not a compatible version.
MSI (s) (B0:E0) [15:22:38:343]: Note: 1: 1935 2: 3: 0x80131107 4: IStream 5: Commit 6:
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:343]: Note: 1: 1304 2: Microsoft.NetEnterpriseServers.ExceptionMessageBox.dll
MSI (s) (B0:C8) [15:22:38:406]: Product: Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support Files (English) -- Error 1304. Error writing to file: Microsoft.NetEnterpriseServers.ExceptionMessageBox.dll. Verify that you have access to that directory.
Error 1304. Error writing to file: Microsoft.NetEnterpriseServers.ExceptionMessageBox.dll. Verify that you have access to that directory.
This is the core error here:
MSP Error: 1304 Error writing to file: Microsoft.NetEnterpriseServers.ExceptionMessageBox.dll. Verify that you have access to that directory.
I did a lot of searching but just couldn't find out what could be causing this or how to fix it.
I eventually discovered that the problem was down to the version of .NET I had installed. I *think* I was running the old V1.1 of the .NET assemblies as I had to downgrade to get something running on an ASP website.
Anyway, I installed the latest version of .NET - V3.5 and restarted the SP3 install and it went through without problem.
It's annoying that on the download page for SP3 there is no mention that you need an updated version of .NET installed or that that patch doesn't even tell you! Another Microsoft oversight that has wasted a few hours of my life!
I am assuming this would have worked fine if I had upgraded to V2 of .NET as well.
You can get the latest .NET installer from here
Excellent! Glad this helped you out. I wasn't sure if many people would get this issue but thought it was worth posting it so that the knowledge is out there.
Very annoying problem which MS could avoid by being clearer on the download page, or if they just popped up a warning on install to advise you need a later .NET version! :)