Cannot uninstall SQL Server 2005, no matter what I do

Question

Windows 2003 Server R2 64 bit

I do Control Panel, remove programs, and get:

Setup failed.. the dialog box disappears so fast that I am unable to write down all the messages, but the items get the red circle with the X inside, indicating something is wrong.

Downloaded msiinv.exe and generated the text file. From this I read:

Microsoft SQL Server Native Client
Product code: {79BF7CB8-1E09-489F-9547-DB3EE8EA3F16}

I then run:

C:\>msiexec /x {79BF7CB8-1E09-489F-9547-DB3EE8EA3F16}

I get:

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable
Use source:
e:\8b67f1db04e16917dc9e5e42\setup\

And yes, e:\ is the DVD drive on this server. But since SQL 2005 was installed, the server has been colocated, and now runs in a server room 2 hrs drive from where I am located.

And I am not even sure I have the DVD anymore. Why can't I just get the darn thing uninstalled, without it requiring the optical media I used 7 years ago?? I am UN-installing, not installing.

I want to install SQL Server 2008. Will the setup for this offer to remove a previous version? Space is limited - the machine was purchased in 2006, small hard drives. And from what I have read, the advice is to remove 2005 before 2008 is installed.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

You may be able to find an SQL Server 2005 MSI on the Microsoft SQL Server site. This isn't easy, although you might be able to find it with a keyword search. You will have to find something other than the minimum install, since you will need at least the client services component. While this is an installer, it can also be used to remove existing instances. I suspect that the main reason for this is that third party software (including, for example, BackupExec) have their own instances of SQL Server, and you shouldn't be uninstalling theirs.

This link might be helpful.

Answer 2

may be help ...

Command line, get SQL Server 2005 installed 64-bit component name and Uninstall string:

powershell ls HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall -rec ^|gp^|select UninstallString,DisplayName ^|select-string -pattern 'SQL Server 2005' ^|FT Line -Au -Hi

Output:

@{UninstallString="C:\App64\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\ARPWrapper.exe" /Remove; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{2D8F2A31-E409-43B5-91AF-2FAF678A0052}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{5867EB9F-3477-489C-8854-8E09BCB24C4C}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{62D2F823-0EAA-496D-B0F9-A869BFC51550}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Backward compatibility}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{73D8B59D-0BFF-4B5B-A031-FAB3AC629E56}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Tools (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{79F1B65E-8FC0-4D03-954D-F9E71C85AEC7}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{7AC75802-3F1D-4C0C-BAD5-EB0855A28063}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Notification Services (64-bit)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{9ADDBE1C-7180-40E5-967C-C6401ADD9CE6}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (64-bit)}

Command line, get SQL Server 2005 installed 32-bit component name and Uninstall string:

powershell ls HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall -rec ^|gp^|select UninstallString,DisplayName ^|select-string -pattern 'SQL Server 2005' ^|FT Line -Au -Hi

Output:

@{UninstallString="C:\App32\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\ARPWrapper.exe" /Remove; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{6FDD4688-E063-401D-B6BE-7234E20B9173}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Books Online (English) (September 2007)}
@{UninstallString=MsiExec.exe /I{B0F9497C-52B4-4686-8E73-74D866BBDF59}; DisplayName=Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SQL2K5LOG)}

My old-time SQL Server 2005 Uninstall report:

Uninstall SQL Server 2005 ... when run ARPWrapper.exe in log {454BFA8D-C675-487E-A997-EE8EBF3D2824} error and not uninstall SQL Server 2005. Uninstall component:

msiexec /I {454BFA8D-C675-487E-A997-EE8EBF3D2824}

Silent Uninstall SQL Server 2005:

"%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\ARPWrapper.exe" /Remove

Uninstall SQL Server 2005 without install CD:

start /wait msiexec /x {79BF7CB8-1E09-489F-9547-DB3EE8EA3F16} SKIPREDISTPREREQS=1 /l*v c:\sqlredist_uninstall.log 

As variant delete service sc command, delete IIS virtual directory, Active Directory registred service SQL, delete registry key and SQL Server folder.

How to manually uninstall an instance of SQL Server 2005

Thx, @ta.speot.is

registration for the SQL Server 2005 SQL-DMO COM library:

regsvr32.exe sqldmo.dll

View SQLServer group:

dsquery group -name SQLServer* | dsget group -sid -samid

Delete SQLServer group:

for /f %G in ('dsquery group -name SQLServer* ') do @dsrm %G -c -subtree -uc

Delete SQLServer group not prompt for delete confirmation:

for /f %G in ('dsquery group -name SQLServer* ') do @dsrm %G -c -subtree -uc -noprompt

View SPN:

setspn -L %LOGONSERVER:~2%

View SPN at login user:

setspn -L %USERDNSDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%

delete arbitrary SPN:

setspn -D <SQL SPN>

View SQL Server service:

Wmic service where (Caption like "%sql%" OR Name like "%sql%") get Caption, Name

Save SQL Server service Report:

Wmic service where (Caption like "%sql%" OR Name like "%sql%") get Caption, Name, StartMode, State, PathName, ProcessId,  StartName >> C:\SQLService Report.txt

Delete SQL Server Active Directory Helper service:

sc delete MSSQLServerADHelper

Delete SQL Server Browser service:

sc delete SQLBrowser

Delete SQL Server Integration Services service:

sc delete MsDtsServer

Delete SQL Server service:

sc delete MSSQL
sc delete MSSQL$Instance

Delete SQL Server Agent service:

sc delete SqlAgent
sc delete SqlAgent$Instance

Delete SQL Server Analysis Services service:

sc delete MSOLAP
sc delete MSOLAP$Instance

Delete SQL Server Reporting Services service:

sc delete ReportServer
sc delete ReportServer$Instance

Delete SQL Server FullText Search service:

sc delete Msftesql
sc delete Msftesql$Instance

View SQL Server Assemblies:

dir "%windir%\assembly\GAC\*SQLServer*"
dir "%windir%\assembly\GAC_32\*SQLServer*"
dir "%windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL\*SQLServer*"

Delete SQL Server Assemblies:

del /s /q /f  "%windir%\assembly\GAC\*SQLServer*"
del /s /q /f  "%windir%\assembly\GAC_32\*SQLServer*"
del /s /q /f  "%windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL\*SQLServer*"

Delete folder:

RD /S /Q "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\90"
RD /S /Q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server"
RD /S /Q "%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server"
RD /S /Q "%USERPROFILE%\..\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server"

Delete SQL Server 2005 registry key:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\90" /f
reg delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\90" /f

Delete startup menu schorcuts:

del /s /q "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft SQL Server 2005"

View Virtual directory, Default WWW Site:

IIsVDir /query w3svc/1/ROOT

View Delete Reports Virtual directory, Default WWW Site:

IIsVDir /delete w3svc/1/ROOT/Reports

View Delete ReportServer Virtual directory, Default WWW Site:

IIsVDir /delete w3svc/1/ROOT/ReportServer