SQL 2005 SP3 install failed

To summarize the problem, the security update KB970892 failed to install because the original installation of SQL Express 2005 SP3 did not run to a final completion, even though there was no indication of any problem during the original installation process.

The fix is as follows:

• Open the Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs) control panel.
• Select Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and click Change.
• Select the database engine component.
• Allow the system configuration check to complete.
• Then choose Complete the suspended installation.
• You may get the error message "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable. Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package "SqlRun_SQL.msi" in the box below." This means that the installer needs access to the original installation files.
  • In this case download SQL Express 2005 SP3 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=3181842a-4090-4431-acdd-9a1c832e65a6.
  • Execute SQLEXPR.EXE /x and extract the installation files to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Setup Bootstrap\Baseline Cache\Express\SP3. This is the location recommended by the article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955250/, but the location may not really matter.
  • Provide the Setup subdirectory of this path in response to the error dialog above.
• Installation will continue, but you may encounter an additional error "[(Microsoft] [SQL Native Client [SQL Server] Password Validation failed. The password does not meet the Windows policy requirements because it is too short.. To continue, correct the problem, and then run SQL Server Setup again."
  • To correct this problem, open the Registry Editor.
  • Locate the key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQLServer\Parameters. Note that it may be MSSQL.2 or some other instance number instead of 1. For x86 operating systems, omit Wow6432Node from the registry path.
  • Create a string (REG_SZ) value named SQLArg3 and set the data to "-T4606" (no quotes).
  • In response to the error message, cancel the installation and allow it to roll back. Then try the installation again.
• Once the suspended installation of SQL Express 2005 SP3 runs to a successful completion, the KB970892 security patch should install successfully.
• You will need to start up the Backup Exec services after the patch installation.

I'll be interested to hear how this works for others.