Automatic update fails

3 Apr 2007 3:48 PM

AuthorCancerForTwo

I'm getting automatic updates to install for SQL Server 2005. I am
technically fairly savvy, but I didn't even know I HAD SQL installed!

The problem is that the automatic update won't install, and it gives me no
reason why... but after it fails it continues to show up as an update waiting
to be installed. (I have set my auto updates to let me decide when to
install.)

"SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2 (KB921896) failed to install."

That's all I get. How do I determine WHY it won't install, and then fix it?

3 Apr 2007 10:15 PM

Erland Sommarskog

AuthorCancerForTwo (AuthorCancerFor***@discussions.microsoft.com) writes:

> I'm getting automatic updates to install for SQL Server 2005. I am
> technically fairly savvy, but I didn't even know I HAD SQL installed!
>
> The problem is that the automatic update won't install, and it gives me
> no reason why... but after it fails it continues to show up as an update
> waiting to be installed. (I have set my auto updates to let me decide
> when to install.)
>
> "SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2 (KB921896) failed to
> install."
>
> That's all I get. How do I determine WHY it won't install, and then fix
> it?

The only suggestion I can give is to download the service pack, and run
the install manually to see what it barfs about.

Hm, well there might be logs in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\LOG\Hotfix or
corresponding. But since you did not even know that you had SQL Express
installed, that directory may be elsewhere.

You could also check in Services that you actually have an SQL Server
service.

--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esq***@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/downloads/books.mspx
Books Online for SQL Server 2000 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/previousversions/books.mspx

3 Apr 2007 10:40 PM

AuthorCancerForTwo

Thank you, Erland... I went to the place you identified and there were some
logs there - I looked at the most recent log and, sure enough, there was the
reason that it failed... Windows Authorization failed. I can't imagine
why... I never used pirated or unauthorized software. But it did give me the
name of the product that uses SQL and, therefore, probably installed it
unbeknownst to me, so I will try to re-install that software.

I must say that I have had a lot of trouble with that product, and I'm going
to dump it as soon as possible... this situation is just another good reason
to do so.

Thank you for your help!

Show quote

"Erland Sommarskog" wrote:

> AuthorCancerForTwo (AuthorCancerFor***@discussions.microsoft.com) writes:
> > I'm getting automatic updates to install for SQL Server 2005. I am
> > technically fairly savvy, but I didn't even know I HAD SQL installed!
> >
> > The problem is that the automatic update won't install, and it gives me
> > no reason why... but after it fails it continues to show up as an update
> > waiting to be installed. (I have set my auto updates to let me decide
> > when to install.)
> >
> > "SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2 (KB921896) failed to
> > install."
> >
> > That's all I get. How do I determine WHY it won't install, and then fix
> > it?
>
> The only suggestion I can give is to download the service pack, and run
> the install manually to see what it barfs about.
>
> Hm, well there might be logs in
> C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\LOG\Hotfix or
> corresponding. But since you did not even know that you had SQL Express
> installed, that directory may be elsewhere.
>
> You could also check in Services that you actually have an SQL Server
> service.
>
>
>
> --
> Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esq***@sommarskog.se
>
> Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/downloads/books.mspx
> Books Online for SQL Server 2000 at
> http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/previousversions/books.mspx
>