DQS installation fails: Exit code 255

Question

Hello, I am having a heck of a time installing DQS.   I have tried installing from command, from specific Instance directory, etc.  No matter what method , the below error is thrown.  Also, There are no system restrictions, elevated prompt issues, etc. at play, so those rudimentary causes can be ruled out.  

Environment:

Virtual Machine running on HyperV
Clean/New installation of OS and SQL
Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter Edition
SQL Server 2012 Developer Edition - I have applied CU1 hotfix but that did not help.  Hotfix location = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2679368

-------------------ERROR during install-----------------------

[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Executing action: Create data quality schema.
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Script: 'recreate_schema.bat BISQL12 DQS SQL_Lat
n1_General_CP1_CI_AS'
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM]
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] ! was unexpected at this time.
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM]
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Script process returned unexpected exit code: '255'.
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Action 'Create data quality schema' finished with error
, aborting installation.
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Starting installation rollback...
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] Installation rollback completed successfully.
[8/24/2012 11:01:54 AM] DQS Installer finished with errors. Please see installa
ion log file at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL
Log\DQS_install.log

-------------------------------------

Looking at the 'recreate_schema.bat' file, I see that it attempts to create the DQS databases by calling create_databases.sql.  If I try to manually execute that script through SSMS, it fails as well.  It throws errors such as....

--------

Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 31

Incorrect syntax near ':'.

:r db\drop_dq_databases.sql

---- and ------

Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Incorrect syntax near '$'.

 CREATE DATABASE [$(DQS_DB)] COLLATE $(DQS_COLLATION)

--------------------

I am at a loss.  Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

First off, sorry that it gives you so much trouble.

Secondly, You can't run the script manually really, because it has to insert the child files :r db\drop_dq_databases.sql

And it has to fill in the template variables $(DQS_DB) which is something like DQS_MAIN or DQS_PROJECTS.

The error "! was unexpected at this time." is a batch file syntax error usually, which doesn't make sense here because the batch file syntax is good and usually works on other computers.

Please do a trial by setting the TMP folder to some easy folder like c:\temp.

Can you open the comand prompted, elevated as admin, and do syntax like this:

SET TMP=C:\temp

SET TEMP=C:\temp

DQSInstaller.exe

Its just a guess and I don't know if it will help. Sometimes the temp folder location causes trouble for the installer.

Thanks, Jason

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Didn't get enough help here? Submit a case with the Microsoft Customer Support team for deeper investigation - http://support.microsoft.com/select/default.aspx?target=assistance

Answer 2

Thank for the reply Jason!

I should have mentioned that I have already done that.  I was thinking that maybe it was a permissions or locations issue as well, so I  moved the temp to C:\temp with the same end result.

  At this point, I have no idea where to go with it. 

Answer 3

net helpmsg 255 shows the error means something cryptic... The extended attributes are inconsistent.

1. Is your computer in US English, or is it set to another locale?

2. Is there any command interpreters / command shells installed? I saw a wierd problem like this on the forum when someone had a command shell system installed that overrode the Windows default cmd with some add-ins.

3. If I recall, one of the first things the .bat file does is to use SQLCMD to run the .sql scripts. Do you have SQLCMD on the box? I think it is under C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\sqlcmd.exe

Is there any older instance of SQL installed? The reason I ask is that if the older version is in the PATH environment variable, it might be picking up the wrong SQLCMD and getting an error because of that. You could search the hard drive to be sure.

Try to change the PATH for the command prompt session to only include the right folder

SET PATH=C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn

If you have an MSDN subscription, you can also open up a ticket with our support team for assistance, see my signature to get started.

Thanks, Jason

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Didn't get enough help here? Submit a case with the Microsoft Customer Support team for deeper investigation - http://support.microsoft.com/select/default.aspx?target=assistance

Answer 4

Hello again!

1.  US English
2.  No interpreters aside for Window default cmd
3.  SQLCMD is present and functional

This is as clean of an install as you can get.  Fresh 2008R2 SP1 install fully patched, after patching, the next installation was SQL.

I tried explicitly setting the PATH and got the same results.  I do have an MSDN subscription, so I will go that route next.  

Thank you for your assistance thus far.

Answer 5

Maybe its picking up the SQLCMD from SQL 2008 and not the one from SQL 2012.

Can you use process monitor and see which one is picked up, or look at task manager if your eyes are fast :-)

Run Process Monitor to watch file access: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

Thanks, Jason

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Didn't get enough help here? Submit a case with the Microsoft Customer Support team for deeper investigation - http://support.microsoft.com/select/default.aspx?target=assistance

Answer 6

I received this error today with SQL 2012 SP1 on two difference machines (Win 7 HP hardware and Win2008Svr VM). I happened to change my choice of Master Key password on one of the attempts and the install proceeded successfully. Maybe there is some issue in the batch files with the content of the passwords? My initial password started with an open parentheses "(". Maybe Jason or whom ever is assigned to this area now could confirm?