SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installation config.ini

Question

After I am done installing the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, the summary.txt file points to an InstallConfig.ini. However, this ini file does not exist. Is this a bug in the installer that it does not generate an ini file. Has anyone else noticed this?

I know for a fact that with the previous version of express (2008 SP1), I could generate the installconfig.ini.

Answer 1

Hi srs007,

 

Did you mean the file storing the configuration information during installation?

Based on my research, the configuration file generated in SQL Server 2008 R2 is ConfigurationFile.ini.

 

For further investigation, could you please paste the Summary.txt file here?

 

If anything is unclear, please let me know.

Answer 2

The summary.txt is generated and lists the configuration parametres. It also points to a ConfigurationFile.ini location. However, the actual configurationFile.ini is no where to be found in the directory location specified in the summary.txt.

Here is the summary.txt:

____________________________________________________________--

Overall summary:
  Final result:                  Passed
  Exit code (Decimal):           0
  Exit message:                  Passed
  Start time:                    2010-08-05 13:50:51
  End time:                      2010-08-05 14:09:46
  Requested action:              Install

Machine Properties:
  Machine name:                  USSCHDT223
  Machine processor count:       1
  OS version:                    Windows XP
  OS service pack:               Service Pack 3
  OS region:                     United States
  OS language:                   English (United States)
  OS architecture:               x86
  Process architecture:          32 Bit
  OS clustered:                  No

Product features discovered:
  Product              Instance             Instance ID                    Feature                                  Language             Edition              Version         Clustered

Package properties:
  Description:                   SQL Server Database Services 2008 R2
  ProductName:                   SQL Server 2008 R2
  Type:                          RTM
  Version:                       10
  SPLevel:                       0
  Installation location:         c:\91a92ffc0066568528a4\x86\setup\
  Installation edition:          EXPRESS_ADVANCED

User Input Settings:
  ACTION:                        Install
  ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN:      True
  AGTSVCACCOUNT:                 NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
  AGTSVCPASSWORD:                *****
  AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE:             Disabled
  ASBACKUPDIR:                   Backup
  ASCOLLATION:                   Latin1_General_CI_AS
  ASCONFIGDIR:                   Config
  ASDATADIR:                     Data
  ASDOMAINGROUP:                 <empty>
  ASLOGDIR:                      Log
  ASPROVIDERMSOLAP:              1
  ASSVCACCOUNT:                  <empty>
  ASSVCPASSWORD:                 *****
  ASSVCSTARTUPTYPE:              Automatic
  ASSYSADMINACCOUNTS:            <empty>
  ASTEMPDIR:                     Temp
  BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE:         Disabled
  CONFIGURATIONFILE:            
  CUSOURCE:                     
  ENABLERANU:                    True
  ENU:                           True
  ERRORREPORTING:                False
  FARMACCOUNT:                   <empty>
  FARMADMINPORT:                 0
  FARMPASSWORD:                  *****
  FEATURES:                      SQLENGINE,SSMS,SNAC_SDK
  FILESTREAMLEVEL:               0
  FILESTREAMSHARENAME:           <empty>
  FTSVCACCOUNT:                  <empty>
  FTSVCPASSWORD:                 *****
  HELP:                          False
  IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS:  False
  INDICATEPROGRESS:              False
  INSTALLSHAREDDIR:              C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\
  INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR:           C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\
  INSTALLSQLDATADIR:             <empty>
  INSTANCEDIR:                   C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\
  INSTANCEID:                    GNO
  INSTANCENAME:                  GNO
  ISSVCACCOUNT:                  NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
  ISSVCPASSWORD:                 *****
  ISSVCSTARTUPTYPE:              Automatic
  NPENABLED:                     0
  PASSPHRASE:                    *****
  PCUSOURCE:                    
  PID:                           *****
  QUIET:                         False
  QUIETSIMPLE:                   False
  ROLE:                          AllFeatures_WithDefaults
  RSINSTALLMODE:                 FilesOnlyMode
  RSSVCACCOUNT:                  <empty>
  RSSVCPASSWORD:                 *****
  RSSVCSTARTUPTYPE:              Automatic
  SAPWD:                         *****
  SECURITYMODE:                  SQL
  SQLBACKUPDIR:                  <empty>
  SQLCOLLATION:                  SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
  SQLSVCACCOUNT:                 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  SQLSVCPASSWORD:                *****
  SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE:             Automatic
  SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS:           GNR_MN\ssukthankar
  SQLTEMPDBDIR:                  <empty>
  SQLTEMPDBLOGDIR:               <empty>
  SQLUSERDBDIR:                  <empty>
  SQLUSERDBLOGDIR:               <empty>
  SQMREPORTING:                  False
  TCPENABLED:                    0
  UIMODE:                        AutoAdvance
  X86:                           False

  Configuration file:            C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20100805_134831\ConfigurationFile.ini

Detailed results:
  Feature:                       Database Engine Services
  Status:                        Passed
  MSI status:                    Passed
  Configuration status:          Passed

  Feature:                       SQL Client Connectivity SDK
  Status:                        Passed
  MSI status:                    Passed
  Configuration status:          Passed

  Feature:                       Management Tools - Basic
  Status:                        Passed
  MSI status:                    Passed
  Configuration status:          Passed

Rules with failures:

Global rules:

Scenario specific rules:

Rules report file:               C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20100805_134831\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.htm

________________________________________________________________

right below the user input settings, notice the path:

  Configuration file:            C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20100805_134831\ConfigurationFile.ini

The config file is not there!!!

 

Answer 3

Hi srs007,

It seems that this file is deleted by someone accidently.

This file just records the configuration of some installation. If the installation succeed, we doesn't need to care about this file.

Could you please provide us more information why you need this file?

Answer 4

I need this file so that I can use it for an unattended installation along with our application s/w installer. In the past verion of SQL Server Express, this file was conveniently generated according to my input. Now I have to go through the user input parameters in the summary.txt and create my own config file. I also have to go through all the parameters and remove those that I  need defaulted...doh!!

Answer 5

Just came across the problem as well.  Please post a solution if you find it.

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Nick's Programming Tips

Answer 6

Hi srs007,

 

In this situation, we could run the installation process to generate a ConfigureFile.ini.

Please follow the steps below:

1.       Run the installation of SQL Server 2008 R2

2.       Configure the installation

3.       In the “Ready to Install” page, please click “Cancel” to cancel the installation

4.       Then we will see a ConfigurationFile.ini in the location provided in the textbox under “Configuration file path:” in “Ready to Install” page.

 

If anything is unclear, please let me know.

Answer 7

What you say was true for the previous version of SQL Server Express. That is exactly how I would generate the configuration files on demand. However, for the current SQL Server 2008 R2 Express version, this screen was eliminated. So I cannot follow your steps as described because the 'Ready to Install' screen is not available for 'Cancel'. Infact I remember reading on the Sql Server Express website about how the new version has "fewer clicks".  This was when 2008R2 was newly released. I cannot find the Microsoft page that advertised the "fewer clicks during installation" any more. The exe that I am running is SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe

But the point is that the ability to generate the configuration file automatically was really a nice feature, it was taken away either accidently or intentionally. The summary.txt points to a configration file in a certain folder and this is very misleading because the file doesnt exist there!!!

I dont think we have come up with a true solution yet.

Answer 8

With the release of SQL Server 2008 R2, by default the ConfigurationFile.ini is not created when installing the Express version.  Check out this blog entry for a solution on how to get the installer to generate the ConfigurationFile.ini:

http://nickstips.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/sql-sql-server-2008-express-missing-configurationfile-ini/

The documentation for installing SQL Server 2008 from the command line includes the switch /UIMODE that will all you to see all the dialogs in the installation wizard.  Setting /UIMODE=Normal will provide you with all the dialogs.  Documenation found here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144259.aspx#Install

Excerpt from Documentation:

Specifies whether to present only the minimum number of dialog boxes during setup.

/UIMode can only be used with the /ACTION=INSTALL and UPGRADE parameters.

Supported values:

• /UIMODE=Normal is the default for non-Express editions and presents all setup dialog boxes for the selected features.

• /UIMODE=AutoAdvance is the default for Express editions and skips nonessential dialog boxes.

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Nick's Programming Tips

Answer 9

OK I just tried running 'setup.exe /UIMODE=Normal'. It still did not produce the screen 'Ready to Install' out of which I could cancel to generate the configuration file, so status quo. 

Answer 10

Hi srs007,

I recommend that you try the method I provided in my previous reply in a machine without SQL Server installed.

Answer 11

I have had the same problem with SQL Server 2008 R2 Express not generating the ini file.

If you download the trial version of SQL Server 2008 R2 you will be able to generate the ini file.

Answer 12

OK. I will take this as an answer although less than ideal.  But I think this was an oversight...some one didnt test properly before releasing the 2008 R2 ;-)

Answer 13

Nick's suggestion will work, but you must specify both flags otherwise it ignores the UIMODE flag.

So I have just run the command line: SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe /UIMODE=Normal /ACTION=INSTALL

This gives the extended UI and generates a config file at the Ready To Install screen.

Answer 14

Thanks SamJ___ . Your suggestion totally worked. It is certainly the answer I was looking for.

Answer 15

Sorry, I didn't catch that you didn't include /ACTION=INSTALL.  The fact that you have to use that flag is posted in my original posted.  It must have just been looked over.

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Nick's Programming Tips

Answer 16

Note: You have to make the following manual changes to the resulting ConfigurationFile.ini in order to perform silent installs.  By default when running a normal UI mode install, these aren't set.

Add:

IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS="True"

QUIET (or QUIETSIMPLE)="True"

SAPWD=”password”

 

Delete (or comment out):

UIMODE="Normal "