Hi, installing SQL Express 2008 R2 SP2 onto Windows Server 2012 R2. I had previously removed SQL Express 2012 due to failed install due to incompatibility with our SAN. (I had uninstalled it via Programs & Features, and also by following Shanky's tips. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/24364.sql-server-troubleshooting-could-not-find-database-engine-startup-handle-error-during-installation.aspx).
This is what's in Detail log:
014-10-07 13:12:00 Slp: Parameter 5 : SqlEngineConfigAction_install_confignonrc
2014-10-07 13:12:00 Slp: Parameter 6 : 0x50806C41
014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Microsoft SQL Server.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Uninstall.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_MSSQLServer.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Wow6432Node_Microsoft_Microsoft SQL
Server.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Wow6432Node_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Uninstall.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:01 Slp: Sco: Attempting to write hklm registry key SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\MSSQLServer to file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20141007_122920\Registry_SOFTWARE_Wow6432Node_Microsoft_MSSQLServer.reg_
2014-10-07 13:12:02 Slp: Cannot find service {0}.
The SqlEngineConfigAction_install_confignonrc part is what is in the background before theCannot find service {0}. Parameter name: SQLWriter pops up.
And in Event Viewer:
Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-RestartManager
Date: 10/7/2014 1:11:48 PM
Event ID: 10010
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer:
Description:
Application 'C:\31f53f2e988a36f2c31e\x64\setup100.exe' (pid 688) cannot be restarted - Application SID does not match Conductor SID..
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-RestartManager" Guid="{0888E5EF-9B98-4695-979D-E92CE4247224}" />
<EventID>10010</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>3</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-10-07T20:11:48.532980400Z" />
<EventRecordID>4538</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="732" ThreadID="2548" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer></Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<UserData>
<RmUnsupportedRestartEvent xmlns="http://www.microsoft.com/2005/08/Windows/Reliability/RestartManager/">
<RmSessionId>0</RmSessionId>
<Pid>688</Pid>
<FullPath>C:\31f53f2e988a36f2c31e\x64\setup100.exe</FullPath>
<DisplayName>Managed SQL Server Installer</DisplayName>
<AppVersion>0</AppVersion>
<AppType>5</AppType>
<TSSessionId>2</TSSessionId>
<Status>67108865</Status>
<Reason>1</Reason>
</RmUnsupportedRestartEvent>
</UserData>
</Event>
Found one article saying you can get this if previous version not fully removed, and to do a repair of the previous version, but as I said I uninstalled it and followed all steps for cleanup, so nothing to repair.