BUG: Service Pack 5 and 5a Setup May Fail Depending on SQLPath (219063)

BUG #: 18591 (SQLBUG_65)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

If the SQL Server home directory is under a parent directory, and if the length of the SQL Server directory name is one character longer than its parent directory, SQL Server 6.5 Service Pack 5 and Service Pack 5a Setup will fail with the following message:

Setup initialization could not be successfully completed. cfgchar.exe could not be executed. Please check the relevant .OUT file.

However, no relevant .OUT file will exist.

WORKAROUND

If such a SQL Server directory path exists, you can work around this problem by making a change to the registry.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Use the Registry Editor to manually add the backslash ("\") character at the end of SQLPath on the following registry key value before running Service Pack 5 or 5a setup:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Setup\SQLPath

MORE INFORMATION

For example, Service Pack 5 or 5a Setup would fail on all of the following directories because the subdirectory is one character longer than the parent directory: