You cannot connect to an instance of SQL Server Desktop Engine when you remove an instance of SQL Server 2000 that is installed on the same computer (909803)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE)
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Bug #: 409668 (SQLBUDT)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You remove an instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2000. You have more than one instance of Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) installed on the same computer. In this scenario, you cannot successfully connect to the other instances of MSDE.

This issue may occur when all the following conditions are true:
  • You install more than one instance of MSDE on the computer.
  • You install SQL Server 2000 on the same computer, or you upgrade one of the instances of MSDE to SQL Server 2000. For example, you upgrade the instance to SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition.
  • You upgrade the instance of SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4).
  • You remove the upgraded instance of SQL Server 2000.
  • No SQL Server Agent services are running.
This issue typically occurs when the following conditions are true, in the order in which they are presented:
  • You have Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services installed on the computer.
  • You upgrade the instance of MSDE for the Windows SharePoint Services service to SQL Server 2000.
  • You remove the instance of SQL Server 2000.
In this scenario, the Windows SharePoint Services service cannot connect to the instance of MSDE. Therefore, the Windows SharePoint Services service cannot start.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because removing SQL Server 2000 removes a shared registry entry that is required by the other instances of MSDE. The shared registry entry SharedMemoryOn is located under the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you must manually create the SharedMemoryOn registry entry that was removed when you removed SQL Server 2000. To do this, follow these steps:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client

  3. Right-click the registry subkey, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. A new registry entry is created in the right pane.
  4. Type SharedMemoryOn as the name of the newly created registry entry, and then double-click the registry entry. The Edit DWORD Value dialog box appears.
  5. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 1 in the Value data box.
  6. Click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/28/2006
Keywords:kbExpertiseAdvanced kbprb KB909803 kbAudDeveloper kbAudITPRO
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