In a follow-up to my post on SQL Server migration options I decided to download and try out MS SQL Server Express Beta 2.

The program downloaded no problem but the SQL Server 2005 Express error code 3417 came up on installation:

SQL Server Express error
SQL Server Express error

I checked various newsgroups and ensured that all the requisite components were uninstalled before starting. I installed the .Net Framework 2.0 as recommended on the SQL Server 2005 Express download page – all to no avail.

It is either due to my installing it on a Windows XP SP2 OS or the fact that my copy of Windows XP SP2 is installed on my Apple Powerbook using Virtual PC!

I guess the chances are that it doesn’t like the hardware but I already have Visual Studio .Net, SQL Server Enterprise Manager and Visual Web Developer 2005 Express edition all installed and running fine on it. Maybe when Beta 3 is released – or maybe I’ll just look into another db!

74 responses to “SQL Server 2005 Express Error 3417”

  1. […] puters Blogging — Tom @ 4:53 pm I have blogged with boring regularity about my battles with WordPress comment spam and my ultimate defeat of it using the Authimage plugin. […]

  2. Alan avatar
    Alan

    Hi Tom,

    We’re expierencing the same problem on the install of the Sql Server Express beta 3. Problem when installing it onto a Windows 2000 SP4 machine. All pre-requisits are fine – although it does warn that the hardware does not meet required spec – although were happy it does.

    If anyone has a solution I’d love to hear it .. or more meaning to the error 3417

  3.  avatar
    Anonymous

    Someone said it may be a compress directory problme

  4. superdigua avatar
    superdigua

    i met the same problem, which is caused by compress directory of sqlserver 2005

  5. ksc@aloha.net avatar
    ksc@aloha.net

    I received the same error, error 3417, when attempting to start the SQL 2005 Express service on a WinXP Pro SP2 machine. Are there any solutions out there for this?
    ksc@aloha.net

  6. Erik Ronne avatar
    Erik Ronne

    I had exactely the same 3417-problem but it was easy to fix. All you need to do is to run SQLdiag.exe in the \90\Tools\Binn folder

  7. Doozie avatar

    I had the sam error when attempting to start the SQL server on XP pro SP2 machine. Did the following:

    Windows control panel -> Performance and maintenance -> Administrative tools -> Services ->right click on SQLEXPRESS -> Properties -> Under Logon tab check Local logon and allow interact with local services…

    The start the SQL Express do the same for SQLServer too.

    1. Ronald avatar
      Ronald

      Thank you! This solution has worked for me

      Ronald

      1. Asif avatar
        Asif

        Me to

    2. Vishal Shah avatar

      My problem got solved

  8. Frank avatar
    Frank

    I was having the same problem as well.

    The last post about changing the service logon from Network to Local System was the key.

    I think some of it had to do with the fact that I installed SQL Server Express a couple of months ago, but just last week finally rejoined my company’s domain. Which almost makes sense because it changes how my computer (XP SP2) interacts with the network…

    My 2 cents…

  9. ASH avatar
    ASH

    Thanks a lot, Doozie. It worked…

    ASH.

  10.  avatar
    Anonymous

    Compression was the issue for me. Thanks for the help.

  11. Mike avatar
    Mike

    Hey, I have another solution. My event viewer siad something about the Master database being compressed. I checked the data folder, and all database files were blue (meaning compressed, the ‘blue’ setting can be found in folder options). So I selected all files, right clicked, choose properties, clicked advanced and unchecked compressed attributes. After that, I could start the service.

  12. Moojjoo avatar

    Yes, I had the same issue and after right clicking and decompressing the data files in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data solved the issue.

  13. Harshal avatar
    Harshal

    Compression was the issue. Thanks

    P.S. I have SQL 2000 and I checked the db files, those were also compressed, but I was able to start the service MSSQLSERVER and use SQL 2000 normally.

  14. Emmanuel avatar
    Emmanuel

    Compressed files were my issue

  15.  avatar
    Anonymous

    I had the same issue…Compressed files. Thanks to everyone Moojoo

  16. Manon avatar
    Manon

    Compressed Files, thanks!

  17. Assad avatar
    Assad

    Thanks for the useful info, decompression was the solution. I’m running SQL Server 2005 on WinXP Sp2.

  18. G Money avatar
    G Money

    Compression was the solution for me.

  19. Totally Mad avatar
    Totally Mad

    Thanks doozie, u are the best bro! it worked

  20. Dexiang.Wu avatar
    Dexiang.Wu

    Thanks very much to Mike

    I think his solution is the key

  21. brdietdidi avatar
    brdietdidi

    Compression was the solution for me too. Not the whole drive had to be uncompressed by only my data-dir: C:\Programme\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data. Thanks for the help

  22. Enrico avatar
    Enrico

    Yep, it was a compression issue! Cheers

  23. Cristian avatar
    Cristian

    No way…same problem but not the same solution.
    Can someone help?

  24. sachin avatar
    sachin

    I had also problem like that ,now its resolved how?

    see-> Windows control panel -> Performance and maintenance -> Administrative tools -> Services ->right click on SQLEXPRESS -> Properties -> Under Logon tab check Local logon and allow interact with local services…

    Realy Good One…

    Thanks
    Sachin

  25. Sam Stange avatar

    Yep, compression was the issue for me. I solved this issue by going to my SQL Server data folder via windows explorer (mine was: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Data), select all the files, right click, click advanced, uncheck, “Compress contents to save disk space”.

  26. vladimir avatar
    vladimir

    Doozie master, thank you

  27. James Dawson avatar
    James Dawson

    As mentioned above, this may be a permissions issue. If you are trying to run the server with a domain account, make sure it has sufficient priveleges to do it.

  28. bruce avatar
    bruce

    In my case, it’s compression issue, too

  29. Wil avatar
    Wil

    I know u may not read this since ur post was in 2006 but thx Moojjoo… save me =D

  30. MWONG avatar
    MWONG

    THANKS DOZIE.

  31. SN avatar
    SN

    Yes, compression was the issue for me. I solved this issue by going to my SQL Server data folder via windows explorer (mine was: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL), select all the files, right click, click advanced, uncheck, “Compress contents to save disk space”.

  32. Vinicius avatar

    Thanks Tom for mantain “posts” on your blog.
    I tried that Erik Ronne said and works fine.
    Congrats.

  33. Myk avatar
    Myk

    Windows control panel -> Performance and maintenance -> Administrative tools -> Services ->right click on SQLEXPRESS -> Properties -> Under Logon tab check Local logon and allow interact with local services… worked for mine. But I am using Business Contact Manager and Accounting 2007. So services appears different. Faster way is START > Run type services.msc. Then on SQL Server (MSSMLBIZ)right click and on the LogOn tab select Local System Account and check Allow service to interact with Desktop.

  34. Thomas avatar
    Thomas

    It was a compression issue.
    Thx for the help !

  35. Franc'O. avatar
    Franc’O.

    Thanks all! Some updates changed the service login. Switching to the Local Service account did it for us.

  36. Andy avatar
    Andy

    I found that granting the “Network Service” account Full Permission on the “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data” folder done the trick.

    Hope this helps.

  37. Andrey Andreev avatar
    Andrey Andreev

    Yep, compression issue here too!

  38. Rifat avatar
    Rifat

    compression was the issue on my xp sp2 sql server 2005 dev ed.

    select the databases, (master.mdf…)
    rigth click, click advanced in properties tab, and remove checkbox on the compression control….

    rifat

  39. Ashish avatar
    Ashish

    Worked for me as well after decompressing the file.

  40. Gary avatar
    Gary

    I’ve been dealing with the issue of SQL failing for months.
    Thanks to the information provided here it’s resolved, compression is the issue.
    Thanks Everyone.

  41. Gary avatar
    Gary

    However SP3 failed, no doubt need to reboot.

  42. Ankit avatar
    Ankit

    thanks dear Doozie your idea is worked for me

  43. abhijeet avatar
    abhijeet

    thanx a lot guys.. compression was my issue which was resolved

  44. Niall avatar
    Niall

    As Andy said above, granting full control did the trick.
    Having read, read & execute, write, modify didn’t work!

    I thought the configuration manager was supposed to take care of all required permissions?

    Thanks for the help.

  45. Simon avatar
    Simon

    Thanks…changing the service to local solved my service not starting AND allowed me to install the latest service pack.

  46.  avatar
    Anonymous

    Thanks guys compression was the problem .. it really helped & thanks to ll of them who posted…

  47. SirThomas avatar
    SirThomas

    Login as “local service” appears to have corrected “Error Code 3417” for me. Thanks!

    Now if only someone can figure out why my MsIE refuses to open anything on http! (https works, and so does any other web-app)

  48. NawarT avatar
    NawarT

    Thanks Mike, it works for me concerning uncompressing the files

  49. alomohora avatar

    it is work for me. thx all

  50. Kevin Jacobs avatar
    Kevin Jacobs

    Login as “local service” appears to have corrected “Error Code 3417? This also worked for me. I think the problem started when I loaded a new key for MS Office 2007 Small Biz on a new system in the Admin account. I then created a new user account with Admin rights, switched to that account and the problems started. It looked like the service defaults to This Account instead of Local User Account. The problem was This account was where it was first loaded, the Administrator Account.

  51. Mustafa avatar
    Mustafa

    Hello !

    i have this problem with Sql Server 2005 express but i don’t know how to solve i tried SqlDiag.exe but it doesn’t work any body have solutions and i didn’t understand Compressing solution
    thanks for your time

  52. Loo avatar
    Loo

    i decompress the data file and it work now. thanks.

  53. Kalyan avatar
    Kalyan

    I had different issue, Entire drive was read mode!! after network team fixing this issue, it is resolved.

  54. grude avatar
    grude

    Thanks All. Changing my services to local and not network did the trick.

  55. Jagjit avatar
    Jagjit

    I had also problem like that ,now its resolved how?

    see-> Windows control panel -> Performance and maintenance -> Administrative tools -> Services ->right click on SQLEXPRESS -> Properties -> Under Logon tab check Local logon and allow interact with local services…

    Realy Good One…

    Thanks
    Jagjit Singh

  56. JayJay avatar
    JayJay

    Thanks so much i could work out this error.
    Good job!!!

  57. Vishal Srivastava avatar
    Vishal Srivastava

    This dosent solve the issue

    Thanks

  58. Grant avatar

    Thanks Doozie,

    After weeks of struggling it worked a charm after using your settings.

  59. Victor Jimenez avatar
    Victor Jimenez

    Thanks Doozie. I will ad this page to favorites.

  60. A Ahmed avatar
    A Ahmed

    Thanks. This was a helpful comment.

  61. R Hartness avatar
    R Hartness

    Will try this out soon… Thanks Tom for helping me find this post since you moved your blog!

    I’m sure this will continue to be a good reference for many other users as well.

    1. tomraftery avatar

      No worries Richard – I added a note to the MSDN site mentioning the new url as well,

      thanks for notifying me,

      Tom

  62. Steven avatar
    Steven

    yup. compression is the issue. thank you all.

  63. Hum avatar
    Hum

    Changing to local logon worked for me…thanks guys

  64. Aamir Saddique avatar
    Aamir Saddique

    De-compressing the master database resolved the issue

  65. Rupesh avatar
    Rupesh

    I had same problem.. After uncheck the compress problem resolved

  66. Lakhan Aanjana Patel avatar
    Lakhan Aanjana Patel

    i try all these three solution but i still get the same error ….

    run SQLdiag.exe in the \90\Tools\Binn folder
    and

    Windows control panel -> Performance and maintenance -> Administrative tools -> Services ->right click on SQLEXPRESS -> Properties -> Under Logon tab check Local logon and allow interact with local services…

    and

    Yes, I had the same issue and after right clicking and decompressing the data files in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data solved the issue.

    error msg


    Windows could not start the SQL Server (ECC) on local computer. For more information, review the System event log. If this is non-microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code 3417

  67. Kelkar avatar
    Kelkar

    Hello,
    Had the same issue of “sql server cannot start specific error 3417 ” .After checking error log, its the master database which is out of sync. So, replaced a new master.mdf and log from other instance.
    Everything went well… And kept a backup of master db and log files, in case its repeated again 🙂
    It may help someone ..
    thanks

  68. rajkumar avatar
    rajkumar

    Changing to local logon worked for me too…thanks guys

  69. Justintmaj avatar
    Justintmaj

    ok

  70. Victoria avatar
    Victoria

    Amazing! This blog really helped – thanks! Ours was a compression issue too. We went in to the SQL\DATA file and highlighted all the blue files and right clicked and in properties under advanced unchecked ‘compress’. Noting this for the person above who didn’t understand the compression bit – we didn’t at first get it either.

Discover more from Tom Raftery's Musings

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading