SQL Server 2016 Express Install Error: attempted unauthorized operation

Question

I never thought it would be bad when trying to install SQL Server 2016 Express Edition on Windows 10. I had both SQL Server 2014 and SQL Server 2012 installed, and mostly used SQL Server 2014. Then I thought I should upgrade and try to install SQL Server 2016. Then I got this error:

Attempted to execute an unauthorized operation error.

I tried this, and there were suggestions for changing the registry key permissions, so I tried to change some permissions on several registry keys related to SQL Server, but it didn’t matter.

Then I continued to search and find people suggesting that this might be a version conflict problem, so I uninstalled all SQL Server installations, including 2016 version (which was not successfully installed) and was started.

Now, after more than two days, I still cannot install SQL Server.

The following is a part of the detailed log where the timeline corresponds to the timeline in the Windows event log error; couldn’t insert the entire detailed log, because it is too long.

EDIT1: after a larger search, this is the actual release:

Exception type: Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.ScoException (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Message: (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation. (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: HResult : 0x84bb0001 (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: FacilityCode : 1211 (4bb) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: ErrorCode : 1 (0001) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Data: (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: WatsonData = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE@SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet\Services\FltMgr (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: DisableRetry = true (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: HelpLink.EvtType = 0x48BB60BC@0xBB814387 (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: EMBResult = Cancel (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: SQL.Setup.FailureCategory = ConfigurationFailure (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: WatsonConfigActionData = INSTALL@CONFIGNONRC @SQL_ENGINE_CORE_INST (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: WatsonExceptionFeatureIdsActionData = System.String[] (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Stack: (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.InternalRegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String subkey, RegistryAccess requestedAccess) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.Globals.GetSqlRegistryKeyHKLM(ServiceContainer context, String key, String machineName, Boolean createIfNotFound) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.FilestreamUtils.SetFltMgrAttachWhenLoadedKey(ServiceContainer context) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.RsFxConfiguration.Install() (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.FilestreamConfiguration.Install() (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.SetupFilestream(EffectiveProperties properties) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.Install_ConfigNonRC_Prepare(EffectiveProperties properties) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlEngine.SqlEngineSetupPrivate.Install(ConfigActionTiming timing, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.PrivateConfigurationBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, ConfigBaseAction action, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SqlFeatureConfigBase.Execute(ConfigActionScenario scenario, ConfigActionTiming timing, ConfigBaseAction action, Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcbCurrent) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SqlConfigBase.SlpConfigAction.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream) (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Inner exception type: System.UnauthorizedAccessException (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Message: (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation. (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: HResult : 0x80070005 (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: Stack: (01) 2016-10-23 10:36:52 Slp: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.InternalRegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String subkey, RegistryAccess requestedAccess) 

Answer 1

I so wanted to find the answer for this, but it doesn’t exist anywhere. Not a real, not a complete explanation.

The only thing I can help with is ... This should be due to the impossibility of updating from the previous version, something hiding in the registry. Although, as I said, there is no answer for this, which, by the way, I consider shame on the MicroSoft parts, there are a lot of people with.

In the end, to install SQL 2016 sp 1 on Windows 10 (Pro), I had to completely rebuild my computer and install beautifully on a clean Windows 8.1.

Then I updated Windows and SQL 2016, and all the famous partners worked perfectly.

This may be your only answer.

Answer 2

Read this article , it may help

Check your user account and access rights (you must have administrator permissions to install Sql Server)

Answer 3

I had this problem with my desktop PC and the only way to fix it was to format / rebuild it all. Now I have a laptop with Windows 10 Pro, and I'm stuck in the same problem. I may have to restore this too, which is just a nightmare. I can't believe this can't be fixed