"Warning 26003. MS Server 2008 R2 Setup Support Files cannot be uninstalled because the following products are installed: SQL Server 2008 R2 Common Files SQL Server 2008 R2 Database Engine Shared”

For many weeks I was stuck in SQL Server hell, and almost, nearly, resigned to having to wipe my hard drive clean, in order to get SQL Server to un-install and re-install successfully !!!

SQL Server un-install wizard kept on getting stuck halfway through the un-install process...asking for, but refusing to accept, the sqlsupport.msi file, even when pointing to a valid install location!


Until I found the answer to my woe (amazingly it works... Like a magic charm!)


Solution:
Save a file as "sql.reg" on your desktop with the following text (use copy-paste) shown in italics:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Bootstrap]
"BootstrapDir"="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\100\\Setup Bootstrap\\"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Bootstrap\Setup]
"PatchLevel"="10.50.1600.00"


After saving the file to desktop, double click the file and accept the dialog to merge this to your registry.

Then copy the following files from your installation folder to the location :

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\SQLServer2008R2

Note: If you don't see these folders just create them with the exact name

What is to be copied:

folder: x64/x86/ia64 (depending on 64bit, 32bit or itanium architecture),

folder: resources

file: setup.exe

Now run setup.exe from your installation folder again. Your fresh installation should begin.

Hopefully this helps you too.

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