AW Samples Installation Error: Object reference not set to instance of an object.

Question

I am trying to install AdventureWorks on my SQL Server 2008 (version 10.0.2531) which is running on a 2-node Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64) Enterprise MSCS cluster.

 

I first checked that the pre-req's were met from the following URL: http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Database%20Prerequisites

• Full-Text Search must be installed.
• The SQL Full-text Filter Daemon Launcher service must be running.
• FILESTREAM must be enabled.

Then I right click on my AdventureWorks2008_SR4.exe installer and run it as administrator, accept license and Next... after 5 secs or so I get an error "Object reference not set to instance of an object" and install fails.

Thoughts?

 

Answer 1

Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that you are running SQL Server 2008 with SP1 and you are trying to install the SQL Server 2008 with SP4 sample databases.

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Jeff Wharton
MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt) MCT, MCPD, MCITP, MCDBA
Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
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Answer 2

So where do you download the SP1 DB's?  The download site  http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/releases/view/55926 seems to only list SR4 which makes me assume it is the logical choice to download for my DB server (it's definately not the R2 DB right?).  If this is not the case please advise where I would download the proper version?

 

 

Answer 3

So I finally got them installed and am COMPLETELY un-impressed with whomever designed this installation procedure!

How I Installed the DB's:

 

1. Met the pre-req's as per http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Database%20Prerequisites
2. Downloaded the installer program (AdventureWorks2008_SR4.exe).
3. Renamed the .exe to be .zip
4. Opened the "zip" file as a compressed windows folder, extracted files to a folder ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Samples\") on my server (exact path is referenced in a script, see below).   The 3 DB's are then in 3 folders in this extracted path... AdventureWorks2008, AdventureWorksDW2008, AdventureWorksLT
5. For each of the 3 folders w. DB's you browse to "instawltdb.sql" script... about 10 lines down there are 2 vars you set.  Note:  Our log files are in a different path by convention so I simply added a 3rd Variable and changed the log path reference of "SqlSamplesDatabasePath" in the CREATE DATABASE cmd roughly around line 86 to be "SqlSamplesLogPath" (e.g. my new variable).
6. Ran script in SSMS in SQLCMD mode.

That's it.. I then emailed my developers a path to the "unzipped" folder and let them take the AS files out as they need.

 

Why were the DB's not packed this way to begin with????

 

Answer 4

Thanks a Ton My Friend. Had I not seen this...I was going to log a call to get it resolved; imagine logging a MS case for such a small issue. MS seriously needs to pull up socks on minor issues like these which should not have occured at first place.

No wonder Androids and others are thriving; as this kind of attitude reflects on each product they release.

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Chintan Shah