I’ve got a fresh Windows 7 copy on my notebook so reinstallation of all applications is a necessary evil. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 proved to be the most evil one.
After starting good old setup.exe I learned from a message box that this program is incompatible with Windows 7 and I must apply SP1 after installation. OK, I selected all features to install without any hesitation, Reporting Services including. Suddenly in the middle of the installation, an “Input string was not in a correct format” popped out at me but the installation was not rolled back and seemed to finish successfully.
Then I wanted to apply SP1 but I couldn’t because the SP1 detected a problem in a previous installation and refused any other work until I resolve it.
A quick look in the log file (C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\DATE_OF_YOUR_INSTALL\Detail.txt):
2009-10-05 10:13:43 RS: System.FormatException: Input string was not in a correct format.
at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)
at System.Number.ParseInt32(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
at System.Int32.Parse(String s, IFormatProvider provider)
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.GetStringTable(Boolean isHelp)
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.get_NameTable()
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.get_CategoryTable()
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.CategoryExists(String machine, String category)
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterCategory.Exists(String categoryName, String machineName)
at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterCategory.Exists(String categoryName)
at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Common.RSPerfCounterInstallUtil.Uninstall()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.RSPerfCounterUtil.SetPerfCounters()
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.RSExtension.SQLRSConfigurationPrivate.Install_ConfigRC(Dictionary`2 actionData, PublicConfigurationBase spcb)
2009-10-05 10:13:43 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature RS_Server_Adv during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
Indeed, a problem with my performance counters. Start-run-perfmon and a message box that some of my counters could not be loaded.
First I wanted to sacrifice Reporting Services as I don’t really need them. But I was in a trap: removal failed with the exactly same message (input string…).
I searched the Internet and found a simple command to rebuild performance counters: “lodctr /R”. Just be sure to run it as administrator otherwise it would claim “Error 5”.
And voila – Reporting Services are uninstalled and SP1 installed. :-) (And I believe that you can install the RS now if you want)