Common failures and resolutions during SQL Server installation - Part 2

Problem :

SQL Server installation fails if the Setup account does not have certain user rights 

Symptoms :

Due to tighten security, default user rights are removed to the local administrator group on a windows operating system .

In preparation for setting up Microsoft SQL Server on this system, you add the Setup account to the local administrators group.

In this scenario, if you either install or upgrade to Microsoft SQL Server, the installation process may fail, and you receive various error messages as noted in the following sections .

Errors :

1. For a new installation, the Setup program fails, and you receive the Access is denied error message

2.  Upgrades to SQL Server 2008 will report the following error message on the Engine_SqlEngineHealthCheck rule:
Rule name:Engine_SqlEngineHealthCheck
Rule description: Checks whether the SQL Server service can be restarted; or for a clustered instance, whether the SQL Server resource is online.
Result: Failed
Message/Corrective Action: The SQL Server service cannot be restarted; or for a clustered instance, the SQL Server resource is not online .

3.
A new installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 fails
You see the following error message when you try to install a new instance of SQL Server 2012 or SQL Server 2008 R2:
Rule "Setup account privileges" failed.
The account that is running SQL Server Setup does not have one or all of the following rights: the right to back up files and directories, the right to manage auditing and the security log and the right to debug programs. To continue, use an account with both of these rights.

Route Cause :

The Setup user account requires the following default user rights for the Setup to be completed successfully:

Local Policy Object Display Name	User Right
a.Backup files and directories                    a.	SeBackupPrivilege
b.Debug Programs                                       b.	SeDebugPrivilege
c.Manage auditing and security log          c.	SeSecurityPrivilege

Solution :

To add the rights to the local administrator account, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the computer as a user who has administrative credentials.
2. Click Start, click Run, type Control admintools, and then click OK.
3. Double-click Local Security Policy.
4. In the Local Security Settings dialog box, click Local Policies, double-click User Rights Assignment, and then double-click Backup Files and Directories.
5. In the Backup Files and Directories Properties dialog box, click Add User or Group.
6. In the Select User or Groups dialog box, type the user account that is being used for setup, and then click OK two times.
7. Repeat the procedure for the other two policies that are mentioned in the "Cause" section.
8. On the File menu, click Exit to close the Local Security Settings dialogue box.